Already the Middle of May?

Wow! Where has the time gone? I cannot believe it's been just over a month since I've posted on my blog. Definitely not like me to be so quiet, but it's been a challenging month. Not all bad, but quite demanding.

There've been some highlights including the annual renewal of covenant for our Companions of Pauline (lay associates). Always such a special day! The celebrant for the Eucharistic Liturgy was Fr. Paul Manning, president of Morris Catholic High School. His homily was so rich yet so accessible. The foundational point was quite striking -- our permanent nesting place is in the hollow of God's hand!

In early May, I had the opportunity to attend a conference sponsored by the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts. The focus of the conference was on youth and the juvenile justice system. I had the opportunity as part of the conference to visit and observe Brooklyn Treatment Court which also serves youthful offenders aged 16-19 who use marijuana and alcohol. The Drug Court model is a comprehensive wholistic model that recognizes drug use/abuse as an addiction that needs to be treated in addition to rehabilitation for the crime committed. If you aren't familiar with it, I recommend learning a bit more about it. The results of well-run drug courts are not only impressive but downright encouraging. The New York court system runs the Brooklyn Treatment Court as part of its problem solving courts, and BTC was one of the original drug courts in the country and remains an international model.

Well, that's about it for now as I have to head out for Ascension Thursday liturgy. I will try to catch up further these next few days. In the meantime, know that you are in prayers.

Thanks for visiting, and talk again soon!