Father Kunst writes a weekly column in his parish bulletin called, “Fr. Rich’s Ramblings.” This is his heartfelt invitation to his parishioners to attend the Vatican Unveiled Event the weekend of August 19 – 21. We are sharing it with you today.
Fr. Rich’s Weekly Ramblings
As part of my studies in the seminary I spent a semester in Israel which was a great experience, but I became desperately homesick. This was before the internet and cell phones, so my only communication with the family was snail mail and a once a month collect call from a payphone.
After that semester I was so anxious to get home, but I had purchased a month long ”euro rail” pass before the semester, so I felt like I had no choice but to travel to Europe to spend four more weeks abroad and use the month long train pass.
My first intended stop was Rome, because I had never been there before, and I had a couple good friends who had been studying at the American seminary there. It was on that occasion when I fell in love with that city. Even though I had a train pass that would get me anywhere and everywhere in Europe I chose to spend three of the four weeks in Rome, so bewildered was I of the capital of Italy.
My love affair with Rome has never abated. I love that place unlike any other place on earth. It is also at that time when I caught the bug to collect anything that has to do with Vatican City State and the popes. It has been my love for Rome that has caused me to spend the vast majority of my meager priestly salary on all things associated with the Eternal City and the popes. I have long referred to my collection as my life’s work (besides the priesthood) and have always wanted this passion to serve a greater purpose, and now that time has come on a pretty large scale. The Vatican Unveiled will give you a chance to experience what I experience when I visit Rome and the Vatican, and I hope you will take advantage of this. The things you will see at this event you will see nowhere else, and if seen through the proper lens it should inspire you in the faith and teach you about the history of the Catholic Church in the most unique way.
St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that God speaks to us through our well-ordered desires; that the things we have a pure desire for are a means by which God will communicate to us.
This passion for collecting things directly associated with the person of our Holy Fathers has been a life long journey for me, and I want you to be able to share in it.
Besides inspiring us in the faith and educating us this event serves another purpose of raising funds for two laudable causes in our local community. Half of the profits will go to Stella Maris and the education of our children while the other half will go to Star of the North Maternity home, a home for homeless mothers of young children. I have a dollar amount goal in my brain, and I hope we make that goal happen. Your purchase of a ticket will both inspire you and also support two very worthy endeavors.
You are my parishioners; you are the ones I most want to experience this opportunity. Tickets will be for sale again after Mass. These tickets are cheaper if you buy them here than if you were to buy them at the DECC. Between now and the 18th of August tickets will also be available at the parish office for this reduced rate.
Come and see Rome! Come and experience the history of the Catholic Church by seeing the things that helped make that history. —-Father Rich
The Vatican Unveiled Event 
Mother Teresa & St. James the Less 
St. James Church, Duluth, MN: Restoration 
John Paul II & Giana Molla, Saints
