I was in a store at Southpark Mall which does engraving. They had there a small piece of granite on which you can have something engraved & it’s weatherproof so I had them put this on it: “In Memoriam…Father Russell Lowe & Father James Vesely” both of whom died within weeks of each other two years ago. Since both had a devotion to the Blessed Mother, I thought a small memorial stone in their memory should be placed by the shrine of Our Lady. The lady at the counter asked if I wanted a dolly so that I could roll it out of the mall to my car. Since I consider myself a strong man, I gratefully declined. Then I walked a long distance through the mall hunched over as the weight of this granite brought pain to my back. I thought that surely some strong gentleman would see my suffering and help me carry it to my car, but I thought wrong. I had to sit down 3 times. But I’m proud I didn’t drop it & break it. I hope my small penance, which I offered for these two fine priests, will help them to heaven. —Fr. James Schmitz
