About fifteen priests and both bishops from the Diocese of Savannah (including yours truly) attended a conference in Raleigh on Faith, Science, and Truth. Priests and bishops from the other dioceses in our province joined us. It was a wonderful time of learning, discussion, and fraternity! Our presenter was Dr. Chris Baglow from the McGrath Institute at the University of Notre Dame. He is a professor at the university and lectures and writes on the beautiful relationship of science and faith which is under great attack in our present age. He presented with clarity the churches teaching and the TRUTH concerning the interplay between faith and science.
One of the highlights was the distinction between the “how” and the “why”. Science offers us the former while faith gives us the latter. Pope St. John Paul II wrote and taught and the Church teaches that “Science can purify religion of error and superstition; while religion can purify science of idolatry and false absolutes.” Faith and science are not opposed to each other but contribute in their own respective spheres in our search for truth. All these new atheists (including some of our children) are mistaken when they put these two at odds with each other.
It is too long of a discussion to present here, but be on the lookout throughout this year for topics on this matter! We are a people of truth seeking The Truth. We are not afraid of anything science has to offer us!
Eucharistic Revival Event
Monday, August 28th, Bishop Parkes will be at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament for a talk and Eucharistic Adoration. Everything begins at 6:00 PM. Throughout this year, we will be promoting opportunities for our Eucharistic Revival. Please be present if you can for this time of worship and adoration with our Bishop!
Health update
In case anyone missed this in last week’s bulletin, I’ll leave it in for this one. Two weeks ago I had a PET scan which showed that the cancer in my abdomen had not spread and that it was stable. While I was praying and hoping that it would be completely eradicated and no trace would be found, the news that we received was excellent and encouraging! The chemotherapy regimen is doing what it is supposed to be doing – keeping the cancer at bay and not allowing it to spread! Thank you for your prayers! They are working! I am still here and the side effects have been tolerable! Your prayers offer me great support and encouragement!
My present chemotherapy regimen is a three week cycle. At the beginning, I have an infusion and then I take oral chemo twice a day for two weeks. The third week is off. Then, I start the three weeks again. This is what is called palliative chemotherapy because there is really no end in sight right now. I’ll go through this cycle as long as the good Lord gives me!
May you and your families have a wonderful week and may the blessings of Almighty God be showered upon you!
~ Fr. Daniel Firmin