I will be out-of-town from Monday through Thursday as I attend the Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus as state chaplain in San Antonio, Texas.  This is my fourth Supreme Convention and I expect, once again, to come back ever thankful that I am a Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus.  It is heartwarming to spend time with Catholic gentlemen and their wives from all over the United States and beyond, as we celebrate the charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism that is promoted in the Knights of Columbus.

If you are a Knight, and even if you are not, I invite those who get the EWTN television station to tune in for the opening Mass of the Convention on Tuesday, August 6, and 9:30 a.m. and the Masses on Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00 a.m. In addition, the keynote address by the Supreme Knight Carl Anderson will be broadcast at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday and the States Dinner at 7:30 p.m.  This last convention event has Archbishop Dolan as it's primary speaker.  Look for me at the Masses and especially at the States Dinner as they usually pan to each state's delegation as they play our state song.  I'll be the one waving the Arkansas flag. 

The lazy, hot days of summer can sometimes go by more quickly than we think.  I just realized that the annual Catholic Charismatic Conference is almost here (August 2-4) at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock.  Every year this conference blesses its participants by presenting two or three nationally known, inspiring speakers who are very interesting to hear.  Michael Cumby (our Lenten video series a couple of years ago) spoke at this conference about four years ago.  There are lively Masses (especially Friday evening and Sunday morning) and other times of praise and worship singing and a healing service (usually on Saturday evening).

A person can either drive back and forth and attend some, or all, of the conference, or get a hotel room for one or both nights and participate in all that is offered (including a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel that is open every hour of the conference).  Flyers are available on the long table in our narthex.  You can register online at www.arkcc.org or call 501-753-1553.  Let the Holy Spirit touch you in a special (and maybe a new) way as you attend this wonderful experience.  I hope to be there for at least some of the conference. 

I know the parents of the young people in our parish (like many parents) are proud of their children's accomplishments in so many areas of their lives.  As a parish we have reason to be proud of these young brothers and sisters in the Lord for their initiative to grow in union with the Lord and His Church.  Some (as they reach the minimum age requirement) participated in a weekend retreat program for the youth called SEARCH.  This past week seven of our young people (Caroline and Camille Eisenhauer, Jonathan Semmler, Ashley and Hazel Bonilla, Sharae Johnston and Megan Shaffer) went to a week-long diocesan activity called "C Squared" which gives the youth who attend, hands-on experience with working with people who are in need in a variety of ways in the Central Arkansas area.  We also have these young people, as well as Sarah and Hannah Issacs and Chloe Calhoun, attending the Steubenville Youth Conference in Springfield, Missouri this weekend.  When you see our young people, affirm them for the time and effort they are putting in to these unique experiences.  We can be confident that our young people will be active, Catholic adults in our Church in the future.  I thank Linda Good and all the parents who took our young people to Springfield this weekend.