****HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO........*****

These candles are on an unfrosted angel food cake, so it seemed so appropriate to post this picture in honor of my dear (and now in Heaven) friend, Fr. Eugene !

This picture came up under birthday candles and I thought...hmmm...how perfect for someone who did so much Good and is now in Heaven!...




This angel seems to be guiding people up to Heaven...




This is a thoughtful and yet wistful angel that just spoke to my heart about how good it was to have him on earth, yet how much better for his sake that he is in Heaven...

I found out that he had died when I got a greeting card returned to me in the mail with deceased-return to sender- written on it...so Mario was very gentle with me and sat me on the couch before I saw it...I wish I could have talked to him just one more time...

I did not know him when he was this young for God had him come into my life during a turbulent time and he was so good at counseling!....

He told me that no matter what comes into your life or how hard any situation may be, always speak in a LOVING and LOVEABLE way and I have held that in my heart all these years...

I was so thrilled when I found out that his birthday was the same day as mine. He was the first person I had ever met with my birthday and I felt honored!

I found what is in black print on an Internet site for all the men of God who died in the SDS (Society of the Divine Saviour) order:

FATHER EUGENE BROCHTRUP SDS

Born August 28, 1921 - Died January 10, 1997

Father Eugene Brochtrup (birth name: Clyde Gordon) was born on August 28, 1921, in Hollandtown, Wisconsin, a small farming community east of Appleton. He once told me that he REALLY disliked his given name (said WHAT were my parents thinking???)so he went by his Confirmation name of Eugene. He had a subtle but good sense of humor.

He attended Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz for high school and the first two years of college. He entered the Society's Novitiate there in 1941, and made his profession of vows on September 8, 1942. He completed his studies for the priesthood at Divine Savior Seminary in Lanham, Maryland, and Catholic University in Washington, DC. On June 4, 1948, he was ordained a priest in St. Gregory's Church in St. Nazianz.

He lost his mother when he was just a very little boy but he said that when his father remarried she was a good woman and that he never knew of a single night they ever spent apart for any reason!

For many years in his ministry as teacher, Fr. Eugene taught languages at Mother of the Savior Seminary in Blackwood, New Jersey; and at Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz, where he also served as prefect of the Brother candidates for a few years. He taught at St. Gregory's High School in the village of St. Nazianz, where he was Vice Principal, as well as associate pastor in the parish.

He ministered as associate pastor of St. Benedict's Parish in Columbus, Georgia, and directed the Social Services Bureau of Catholic Charities in that city. For a time, he also taught at Pacelli High School in Columbus.

This is when I first met him and we shared faith stories and he gave great and gentle counseling.

In 1974, he returned to Wisconsin, and was chaplain of Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, and helped in St. Patrick's Parish in Menasha.
Later, he worked in St. Peter's Parish in Oshkosh; as chaplain in Holy Family Hospital and St. Mary's Home in Manitowoc; and as associate pastor of St. Mary's Parish, also in Manitowoc.

Mario and I went to visit him when we went up to Chicago on vacation for we would take one day to ride up to Manitowoc and just have a nice visit. He was also a very considerate person who never forgot to send cards for all occasions and to ALWAYS remember to mention that he was praying for each of us by name and he would always write about and ask about each person.

In 1992, he suffered a stroke, and he retired to St. Mary's Home. He died there on January 10, 1997, and he was buried in the community cemetery in St. Nazianz.

This happened the summer that my son and I were going up to Wisconsin (for some reason Mario couldn't go that year) and he was going to show us all around the city. Instead we went and visited him at his hospital bedside and he was wonderful and even consoling as I cried, happy that the prognosis was good but sad at what had happened.

After his stroke we would continue to visit him and it was always so incredible...he NEVER complained one time or talked about his limitations. Instead he would talk sports to both Marios and ask how everyone else was doing, totally interested in us and smiling the whole time and then thanking US for having come to visit him. His 'silence' about his multiple limitations was so inspirational!! You knew you were in the presence of holiness.

Fr. Eugene is remembered fondly as a "man on the go," whose many ministries and appointments made it difficult for anyone to keep up with him. An avid jogger for over twenty years, he was often seen running in the wee hours of the morning for his five-and-a-half mile jog.

I even have an old newspaper (I asked him to send me anything any time he was involved but he was VERY humble and only did it because we were good friends)where he was featured for having jogged so much and under severe weather conditions (like snow and sleet and ice)! He had been a heavy smoker but when he gave it up and realized he could jog (something he DEARLY loved) he did it with gusto every morning at 4:00 or 5:00 A.M. for many years.

Gifted with languages as well as having excellent teaching skills, he taught the basics of Latin and Greek to many seminarians over the years in creative ways that made it easier for them to learn.

So strange to think about it but even though we both had a love of languages, we never spoke to each other in any language other than English...there were too many good Christian books to share or questions to ponder!

So I would like to ask everyone reading this to take a minute to"wing" a prayer up to Heaven that whatever he is praying about for good down here, will come true!

HE WOULD HAVE LOVED THIS LITTLE CARTOON BELOW......

AS WELL AS THESE GOOFY JOKES....

Grandpa Jones' Birthday


It was Grandpa Jones' 100th birthday and he was still in perfect health. At his birthday party he was asked how he managed to live so long and stay so fit.

He explained "I put my long life down to spending so much time out of doors. I've been in the open air, day after day, rain or shine, for the last 75th years."

"How do you manage to keep up such a rigorous fitness regime?" we asked.

"It's simple" he said. "When I married my wife 75 years ago, we both made solemn pledge on our wedding night. We agreed that whenever we ever had a fight, whoever was proved wrong would go outside and take long walk


Walking On Water


Amanpreet heard a rumor that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all walked on water on their 21st birthdays. So, on his 21st birthday, Amanpreet and his good friend Brian headed out to the lake.

"If they did it, I can too!" he insisted.

When Amanpreet and Brian arrived at the lake, they rented a boat and began paddling. When the got to the middle of the lake, Amanpreet stepped off of the side of the boat... and nearly drowned. Furious and somewhat shamed, he and Brian headed for home. When Amanpreet arrived back at the family farm, he asked his grandmother for an explanation.

"Grandma, why can I not walk on water like my father, and his father, and his father before him?"

The feeble old grandmother took Amanpreet by the hands, looked into his eyes, and explained, "That's because your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were born in January... you were born in July, dear."
******

Q: What did one candle say to the other?
A: "Don't birthdays burn you up?"

*******
Q: "Were any famous men born on your birthday?"
A: "No, only little babies."
*******
Q: How can you tell that you're getting old?
A: You go to an antique auction and three people bid on you!
*******
"I'm giving a 'surprised' birthday party for you."
"A 'surprised'. birthday party? What's that?"
"That's where I invite a bunch of your friends, and if any of them come, I'll be surprised!"
*******
Q: Why did the boy feel warm on his birthday?
A: Because people kept toasting him!

~~~For the blessings of wonderful celebrations and the warm friends You send as additional blessings I most sincerely thank You, dear Lord.