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Once a week we meet as a hospice team and somewhere in the midst of that meeting a prayer is shared. Usually the prayer invokes God and makes mention of us being His instruments here on earth, asking for strength and grace.
Today the person conducting the meeting asked me, the hospice chaplain to ‘say a little diddy.’
We all laughed and then in a moment the room felt heavy. Today’s prayer came out a little different.
The room held a variety of faiths, believers and non believers, taking a minute and connecting it all,
I share today’s prayer—
“Let’s take a moment in silence and remember all of the suffering…
For those suffering in their dying.
And those suffering in their caring for the dying,
For those suffering from questions, anxieties, fears, grief, despair, and loneliness,
For those suffering from addictions and violence to terrible to find the words,
For those suffering from war and famine and hate.
This day we are all somehow connected
—-and we are here in the midst of so much pain.
Lord.
We need you.
Amen”
Ordained a Roman Catholic priest, Michael left the active ministry, married, worked as a therapist, then later became an Episcopal priest. In 2004, together with his wife and son, he made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in thanksgiving for her healing from cancer. It was at this first pilgrimage that he felt called to reconcile with the Roman Catholic Church--a church from which he had been excommunicated.
Following he and his family’s return to the Catholic Church, he has been requested by parishes and prayer groups for talks and retreats on a variety of spiritual topics. He reaches a broad audience because of the wealth of his experiences as a priest, therapist, protestant minister, ex-communicant, hospice chaplain and of course a husband and father. He is a captivating story teller, preacher, and has a knack for connecting with the congregation and audience.
Michael is a full time chaplain for LECOM VNA Hospice. In addition he facilitates several bereavement and support groups.
Michael enjoys family adventures, bicycling, cooking, fly fishing, building projects, and music composition. He lives with his lovely wife and five hounds. On occasion he runs a half marathon with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law.
A Lost Shepherd , Michael’s first book was published in 2012 and received a nomination for Book of the Year by the Small Publishers Association. In 1991 He composed, performed and produced Earthen Illusions a selection of musical compositions and donated all proceeds to the American Cancer Society. He is also a contributor to Priest magazine, published by Our Sunday Visitor. He is currently authoring a new work on Spritual Direction in Hospice.
