I am home again after spending two days at our Diocesan Seat in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday evening a solemn vespers service was held. The Most Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich, our Prime Bishop, presided, assisted by the Senior Priest, priests, and deacons of the church. The Senior Priest of my seniorate, the Very Rev. Walter Madej, gave the homily.

It was a wonderful message that put before us the great gifts of the Holy Spirit offered to those called to the service of the Church. These gifts do not preclude suffering or sacrifice, but take that effective sacrifice as an offering for our people.

Bishop Grotnik had both great joys and great suffering. The greatness of his heart, his generosity, his love for his people and his clergy, the welcoming reality he lived and practiced were the reality that came from his joys and sufferings.

On Thursday morning the clergy of the church sung Mattins which was then followed the Holy Funeral Mass. Bishop Grotnik had and Prime Bishop Nemkovich has a wonderful talent and gift for music. The solemnity of the traditional liturgy of the Church coupled with the love and warmth of our time together before God, remembering and praying for our dear Bishop, was everything Bishop Grotnik struggled to preserve and engender within our Church.

Needless to say, the choir of St. Stanislaus Cathedral and the planning and preparations that were overseen by Fr. Anthony Mikovsky were true expressions of love for our dear Bishop.

I shall miss my spiritual father greatly and I have already seen and experienced the power of his intercession before the Lord. With the confidence the Catholic/Christian faith offers I know he is with our Father in heaven.

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As an aside, as I was in thought after Holy Communion I looked over at the portrait of our first Bishop, Francis Hodur. Bishop Hodur was watching over the body of Bishop Grotnik, and could not help but think that Bishop Grotnik is now with Bishop Hodur, whom he spent many years researching and writing about.

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Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord! Also, please pray for his wife Krystyna, his children, and grandchildren.