SEARCHing this weekend.

I am currently down in Ironton, the southernmost part of our diocese, helping with a retreat for high school kids.

I've never been on a SEARCH retreat before; it's been interesting. The two most powerful parts so far have been hearing confessions (as usual) and reading letters written by their parents to the kids. The experience was intense and emotional - I felt a little like I was eavesdropping. It was a good one for the kids.

Tomorrow I will be covering Mass for the pastor down here (he's covering for another priest) at a little country parish. Once again, surprise homilizing. We'll see how it goes ...