I preached a Lenten retreat at Holy Cross House last week. Three of my former pastors now live in our health care facility. Here are pictures of two of them, Fr. Bill and Fr. Clem. Also, below is a poem from my experiences last week.
Fr. Bill Neidhart, CSC and I served at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Burbank, California
Fr. LeRoy Clementich, CSC and I served at Sacred Heart Church (Tri-Community) in 1984.
Retreat Week
A tiny American tree sparrow outside my window
Perched in a thick shrub
Protected its wings from the heavy snow
During the wintry week
On the inside of Holy Cross House
The elderly men in wheelchairs or leaning on canes
Built a fort of hope
Struggled to pray with stiff fingers
We endeared ourselves to the Cross of Jesus
Postponing despair for another day
We prayed into Mary’s sorrows from our earthly experience
Whittling new insights from strokes or bitterness
We told family stories and laughed at jokes one more time
Opening up a memory album
Even celebrating our first saint
Andre Bessette
Meeting him at the door of our fragile hearts
Where healing miracles still live
We built a fire on the altar where bread and wine
Sparked the Real Presence of Jesus and
The priests held up their hands to warm themselves
Against the clipped-wing regrets–
Moving into this common home
From various countries
In these wintery and blustery days
Just before an eternal spring
– Ronald Raab, CSC
Broken But Not Divided 
Fr. Ron,
A beautiful poem about an even more beautiful retreat, I am sure. I’m reading about making old age a retreat and this entry by you simply makes it more comprehensible via the two powerful minds of renunciation and compassion. Thank you.
Mike from Centennial, CO
Father,
What a beautiful poem of remembrances about your time at the Holy Cross House for the retreat. I’m sure all of the participants were truly touched and blessed by your loving tenderness and willingness to interact with them. God bless you for your compassion, and God bless them for long lives in service to God and His flock – us! Thank you.
Fran Woolsey
Lovely!
Thanks, Fr. Ron, each of these stanzas reads almost like a haiku! What a beautiful way to wrap both memories of ministry together with soon to be expectations of heavenly joy. I love that image of the little sparrow perched on a snow filled bough, awaiting the spring of Christ’s rising. And the “Elderly men in wheelchairs or leaning on canes / build a fort of hope”. Your artistic training and practice has given you such poetic vision. I am sure that the Holy Cross House community was warmed and encouraged by your presence!