From the Desk of Father Nathan

I will miss her in my daily life more than words can express. As I often shared with you, I spoke with her every day. I miss those conversations deeply.

I want to sincerely thank all of the Parish Council members for wanting to host a birthday celebration for me.

To be honest, I have never cared much for celebrating my own birthday. I enjoy celebrating others, but when it comes to me, I have always preferred to keep it simple. However, every year in my hometown, the feast of St. Paul of Thebes is celebrated on August 8th. Our entire family—my uncles, aunts, cousins, and relatives—would gather for this special feast, and my mother made sure everyone was invited. The hidden blessing, of course, was that the village feast was also held on my birthday.

When the Parish Council asked if I would be willing to celebrate my birthday this year, I said yes for one simple reason: it reminds me of my mother and the love she always showed me on my birthday.

May God bless all of you. Your kindness truly means a great deal to me.

I will miss her in my daily life more than words can express. As I often shared with you, I spoke with her every day. I miss those conversations deeply.

I used to tell my siblings that God’s providence became a reality in my life through the love of my mother. She loved me beyond measure.

My father died in an accident when I was just 13 years old. He was only 36 years old. My mother was also 36 when she became a widow. From that day forward, she became both my mother and my father.

As I have often said, she was a strict disciplinarian, yet she was also a woman of extraordinary love, deep faith, and unwavering devotion.

Thank you for everything you have been to me during this difficult time. Your prayers, your kind words, and the many Masses being offered for my mother have brought me great comfort. I am deeply grateful.

Please continue to pray for me, that I may accept this great loss with faith. I pray that the Lord will fill the place in my heart once occupied by my mother’s love with His own infinite love, giving me the strength to continue serving Him and all of you.

May our Blessed Mother wrap me beneath her mantle, comfort me in my sorrow, and lead me always on the path to holiness.

May God bless each of you.