A Happy Holiday Season to you!
Every year we think we will have the time to start early and write individual and personal notes of immense length to y’all and every year the time gets away from us and we resort to this form of letter. We want you to know we think of you often even if we don’t write, and that we look forward to this opportunity to let you know how special you are to us.
Pat and Karen are as involved in church work as ever – if not more so. Pat is in his final year of preparation for ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. For those of you who aren’t Catholic – and probably for some who are (!) – Permanent Deacons are ordained Catholic clergy and serve in many of the same ministries as priests. They preside at marriages, baptisms and funerals; they read the Gospel and give homilies at mass; they serve with the priest at the altar during Mass. What they are not permitted to do is to hear confessions and to preside at Mass. Currently, there are around 150 deacons serving in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston and another 40 to 50 who are candidates. It is an exciting new opportunity for married men to serve as Catholic clergy, and at the same time it involves the cooperation and participation of their families. Pat and Karen spend most of their free time in study (Karen attends all of Pat’s theology, history, etc. classes) and in Church ministry. It givs their lives a lot of purpose and they are very happy about what the future holds for them.
Pat is still working at Baylor College of medicine as Director of Faculty Services. He likes it very much, even if there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. Karen still works for the Vocations and Propagation of the Faith offices as secretary, bookkeeper, administrative assistant and flunky. It’s a good place to meet great people.
Deb is living in San Antonio after graduating last December from Trinity University. She works at the Trinity University Library. She seems happy and busy there and likes the slower pace of San Antonio (who can blame her!).
Ken is returning to Texas A&M in January and is thinking of changing his academic major to Accounting. He’s been working part-time at The Cornpopper – would you believe 32 flavors (!?) – from “Bacon & Egg” to “Pina Colada”!
Kip is a senior at Westfield High School. It seems likely that he’ll be going to Southwest Texas University in San Marcos or Sam Houston State U. in Huntsville next fall – both small schools in small towns. He’s doing well academically and socially – all in all a good senior year.
So – next year it’s Pat and Karen alone again. Our 25th anniversary is in June and it seems we’ve come full circle. Life has been very good to us – weight and grey hair notwithstanding – and we keep finding new joys and challenges each year.
We hope your year has been a good one. Know that you’ll be in our thoughts and prayers in 1983. Have a wonderful Christmas!