Fr. Z's Blog

My time at the conference held by the St Paul Center for Biblical Theology (and Emmaus Press) was great.  Being close to Pittsburgh I wanted to see something of the city.  So, with the help of a great priest, Eastern Catholic, whom I met at the conference, I got around to see a few things.  Some highlights.  BTW.. most of the things I went to see were CLOSED.

From the bluffs above the city where there is a church dedicated to Mary with Tiffany windows.  It was, of course, closed.

Back in 1960 Bill Mazeroski hit a walkoff homerun to win the World Series.  The old Forbes field is gone, but there are traces.

Inside a nearby university building, homeplate.

German food was had with a priest friend.

Cigars were smoked and chess was played with a priest friend.

Driving in Pittsburgh.  It’s sorta like driving in Brooklyn except vertically.

I finally, after trying in vain for a couple days, visited the “relic chapel” of St. Anthony.  Literally thousands of relics.

Time to get out of Dodge and head eastward to my next stop near Harper’s Ferry and a place at a rectory.

On the way I stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial.

The older I get the more I am moved by sites like this.

Later in the evening, after tortuous driving up and over the Allegheny’s summit, Thai.

St. Peter’s in Harper’s Ferry.

Tomorrow, who knows?   I think I will try to get a big chunk of the southern drive out of the way.   Maybe back to Parris Island.  Yut.

Pray for me and for safety on the road.  Pray for those who have been so kind with hospitality and companionship in Pittsburgh and in the Charles Town / Harper’s Ferry area.

I’ve been on the road for a few days. One needs a visit to Buc-ee’s. However, I think I will never visit one of these places on a summer weekend again unless perhaps early in the morning. I was jammed.

I first visited a buddy who is now chaplain at Parris Island.   “And on that island… there is sand…”.

Not so much sand here, however.  Swamp, rather.

For supper it was between shrimp and grits and gumbo.  With, of course, beer.  This beer was NOT as good as the beer the monks make in Norcia.  Not by along shot.

Having had Gumbo at Parris Island, I couldn’t help but think of our long-lost and much-missed Semper Gumby.   If you are out there, c’mon back home.

And remind my to avoid the interstate on summer weekends.   I-26.  Nightmare of construction and just plain moronic driving.

I darn near died in Ashville.   We were merging into the next phase of Interstate, lots of traffic.  Fast.   The woman in front of me… STOPPED.  AFTER merging onto the INTERSTATE.   A phalanx of guardian angels deserve thanks.   It was perhaps the single weirdest thing I’ve seen and one of the most dangerous by far.   My heartrate is still coming down and that was yesterday.

Having reached my next overnight stop, there was good food and an unbeatable view of the bend in the river where Daniel Boone was.

Early up and off.   I am not in West Virginia for a conference for priests held by the St Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

It is possible for people to subscribe for internet viewing of the talks.

I warmly recommend these conferences, which are intended for priests.