Baby Irene came home from the hospital a couple of days ago. Doctors initially expected her to spend much longer in the NICU, but she has made amazing progress. Thanks so much for your prayers.

There’s an Orthodox tradition that a mother and her newborn don’t return to church until forty days after the birth, and then they do so with a special ceremony. So we didn’t see Mat. Anna and Irene in church today, nor were we able to meet Irene at coffee hour, because she still needs some time for her immune system to get stronger.

The Go Fund Me account for the Harringtons is just shy of $55,000. Thank you for your generosity. Believe me, it is deeply needed, and deeply appreciated. This past week, the congregations of nearby St. Pius X and St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic churches took up a collection for the Harrington family, and brought $8,600 to them to help with medical expenses. That is the Body of Christ, isn’t it? God bless those people. I’m told by local Catholic friends that Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church here in St. Francisville took up a collection for Baby Irene and her family in today’s masses. Thank you, thank you, friends.

After the liturgy today, Father Matthew told the congregation how overwhelmed he and his family have been by the kindness of so many in their crisis. He said that a woman showed up at the church yesterday with a bunch of groceries for them. “Who are you?” he asked her.

“Just a friend,” she said, then drove away.

“That is love,” said Fr. Matthew. Truly, it is. Again: thank you.