Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories

Father Ken Vavrina CROSSING BRIDGES News:

My new book with Father Ken Vavrina, “Crossing Bridges: A Priest’s Uplifting Life Among the Downtrodden,” has been selling out at The Bookworm. It’s available there, at other select bookstores, on Amazon and Kindle and through Uplifting Publishing at www.upliftingpublishing.com.

The November issue of the New Horizons newspaper will carry my cover story about Father Vavrina.

Thanks to the pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Omaha, Father Mike Eckley, for referencing the book in the parish newsletter. I’ve copied Fr. Eckley’s message to the congregation below, He uses the book’s subject – Fr. Ken’s life serving the poorest of the poor as a missionary for Mother Teresa and for Catholic Relief Services – as a jumping off point to discuss matters of charity and poverty.

You can order the book at the link below.

“Before I started writing this on Labor Day afternoon, I went through the mail I received over the weekend. Among the mail there was a package with a book, Crossing Bridges: A Priest’s Uplifting Life Among the Downtrodden. It was a gift from Fr. Ken Vavrina, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha, who is also the author of the book. Last week I was at the Priest Council Meeting in Schyuler. It was a 2 day meeting and on Monday night, we were sitting around telling stories. It was mentioned a few times to one of my brother priest who was telling some extraordinary stories that he should write a book. Fr. Ken has actually done it. He has had an extraordinary life working among the poor both here in this Diocese and throughout the world. I’ve heard some of his stories and look forward to reading his book. He has worked among Lepers and has worked hand in hand with Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

“Blessed Teresa, Fr. Ken, Pope Francis and many others among us show us their faith not only in there model of prayer but in their actions. St. James in today’s Second Reading talks about the relationship of our faith to our works. He states, “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Our faith must come forth in the way we choose to live our lives. It is not just about coming to celebrate the Eucharist or praying regularly but also how those things influence how we live and most importantly, how we reach out to those in need.

“The film, Mother Teresa, shows her looking over a house being prepared for the nuns in San Francisco. A priest narrates, “I was gently informed that the springs could go, the mattresses could go, the carpeting …” A workman then explained the workings of the building’s hot water heater, and the nun lightly tells him, “I don’t think we will be needing it. For us to be able to understand the poor, we must know what poverty is.”

“I know for myself I would not be able to live without hot water, especially during the winter months. As I write this I’ve been on the phone with Cox Communication because the new boxes they put into the rectory are not receiving ESPN and I wanted to watch the Ohio State Game tonight. I’m feeling very put out at the moment. Watching a football game on cable is definitely a luxury and I’m not happy. It is hard to imagine living without a necessity, which I consider hot water to be one of those necessities. I admire and am challenged by those who radically live their faith.

“I’m not suggesting we turn off the hot water heaters at home or throw out our beds. What I am suggesting though is if we are serious about living our faith, we should look at ways we can simplify our daily lives and be more attentive to the needs of others. As James says, “Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.” For those who would like to order Fr. Ken’s book, you can go to http://www.upliftingpublishing.com. All proceeds of the book will go to Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha.”

THANK YOU, FR. MIKE

Order your copy of Crossing Bridges at www.upliftingpublishing.com.

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