Dear Parishioners,

I announced at our Thanksgiving Day Mass that the SINGLER brothers (along with two of our niece’s fiancé’s) were going to have a pumpkin pie bake off. These pies were going to be judged for:

1. Best Crust,
2. Best Filling, and
3. Best Presentation

It was a blind tasting of these four pies by everyone who attended our Thanksgiving dinner! There were 12 for judging. Yours truly WON BEST CRUST AND BEST PRESENTATION! My brother Father John won BEST FILLING. I was so excited to pull this off with two wins out of three.
Now besides pumpkin pie baking I know many of you have observed my struggle with walking. I am under a doctor’s care with the Crystal Clinic. I had an MRI two weeks ago. Its result showed “stenosis of the spine” in L4 and L5 as well as “stenosis” in L3 and L4. So basically, that means my lower spine is shrinking or narrowing. Also, the sciatic nerve is being aggravated because of this.

To comfort me, I am prescribed 8 weeks of PT, twice a week and afterwards, if necessary, an epidural shot!! YIKES!! No surgery recommended AT THIS TIME.

Everyone has something in the aging process. I laugh because how did I get “OLD”?

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica; the weaking of several muscles in my legs and arms with a frayed left bicep, OUCH!

A year ago, x-rays revealed BONE ON BONE in my right hip and almost bone on bone in my left hip. No surgery for this currently. I was told by the hip doctor; I will know when it is time for surgery!

While it sounds like “I am a mess” it is all good. I am grateful to be your pastor and a priest for 40 years!

Many blessings,
Father Jim