Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05
I arrived on Saturday to the rectory where the faucets plentifully run with Shiner beer. I geared up for my introduction to the parish at all the Masses (three) this weekend and prepared myself for the expected comments, "You look like Fr. Bryan," of which I got many. The famous Sts. Cyril & Methodius Picnic (a.k.a. The Shiner Picnic) went well and I enjoyed myself receiving many SPIRIT-ual gifts of different types.
Today I woke up to an accidental "Razz-the-New-Guy Day" for 6:30am Mass, which on holidays such as Labor Day (today) and Memorial Day isn't until 8am. Today, my pastor left for his parents up in Fort Worth leaving me to the whole rectory. I decided to wash the species of bug that I am helping to annihilate with my truck...the Love-Bugs that like to hang out over the country highways of Texas. The one car wash in town was hiding from me so my next course of action was to travel the 18 miles to the next town (Gonzalez) for Wal-Mart and possible better luck finding a car wash. Just as I was setting out for Gonzalez, a police car started following me. Since I was doing nothing wrong, I stayed the course until Mr. Policeman settled on officially welcoming me to Shiner.
We had a good conversation, during which he reminded me of how country folk aren't really much in a hurry and that I was no longer in the rat-race we call Houston...and thankfully so. After he was done greeting me to this nice little farming/ranching community, he sent me on my way with many blessings. It was only after this event did I feel fully welcomed to the town.
