With the death of Father Linus Ukomado, a missionary priest from Nigeria, I can't help but reflect on the reality of a shortened ministry of priesthood since Father Linus was only 55 years old at the time of his death.  My thoughts, however, turn quickly to thanksgiving for the 24 years God gave him as a priest to minister to people in Nigeria and for the last 15 years in Arkansas.  I can't appreciate how challenging it must have been for him (and all foreign-born priests) to come to our country and our state and try to adapt to our culture while being true to the universal Church for which he was ordained to serve.  I also thank God for the many Catholics who welcome our missionary priests and are patient and understanding of the challenges these priest face as they come here to serve out of the need we have to supply priest for parishes that we have in Arkansas.  I will be seeing most of our missionary priests at retreat this week in Subiaco for our annual priest retreat and will hopefully take time to thank them for their ministry here.  As I see more and more younger priests from our diocese at retreat, I will thank God that they have answered the call to serve in this diocese.  As I leave for retreat having just celebrated my 28th anniversary of prieshood (May 31), I will not look too far ahead with expectation of a ministry of 30, 40 or 50 years, but will take it one day, one month, one year at a time, appreciating (even more so after Father Linus's sudden death) that none of us know the day or the hour that God has chosen for us to go to our true and eternal home.  I will be praying for you on retreat and ask for your prayers for me and all the priests who will be there.  I hope to see some of you at Mass this Friday at a special time, 4:00 p.m., followed by our First Friday devotions and First Saturday Mass at 9:00 a.m., followed by devotional prayers and the rosary.