Covid vs Abortion

In the year (12 months) 2018 there were 619,591 abortions in the US. In the 18 months of COVID we have had 664,831 COVID deaths.

In New York State there have been 53,925 deaths from COVID. In 2017 there were 105,380 abortions.


In California there have been 66,247 deaths from COVID and in 2017 California had 132,680 abortions.


When one looks at these numbers we have to ask why we are not putting as much effort into stopping abortion as we are trying to stop COVID? Some in our government seem to think we should even be paying to put the unborn to death. We can see that many of those who want to close down cities and states to save lives that could be lost to COVID are the same ones who want to take the lives of the unborn.

Remembering those who have died in battle

This Memorial Day I'd like to especially remember the following who gave all fighting for their country.  I've been updating this list on Facebook each year as I make new discoveries. 

Sergeant William W. Smith was born about 1825 in Pennsylvania

4th great-grandfather

Died January 18, 1863 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee of wounds received at Stones River, Tennessee on December 31, 1862.

Private James Edward Mackerel was born in 1836 in Cork, Ireland

husband of 3rd great-grandmother

Died on August 3, 1864, in Andersonville, Georgia. He was 28.

Sergeant Washington Lafayette McCollam was born on August 1, 1842 in Middlesex, Pennsylvania 

4th great uncle

Died on May 22, 1864, in Andersonville, Georgia. He was 21.

Private John T Hanlon was born on April 3, 1898 in Hermosa, South Dakota

1st Cousin 2x removed

Died November 7, 1917, in Belgium. He was 19.

He was part of the Canadian Forces

Private 1st Class Charles Crawford Walker was born on March 28, 1918 in Chamberlain, South Dakota

2nd Cousin 2x removed

Died on June 15, 1944, in Manche, France. He was 26

Private 1st Class Donald Dean Peckman was born March 3, 1924 in Kearney, Nebraska

Husband of my 2nd Cousin 1x removed

Died November 3, 1944 in France. He was 20

Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Donald Davis Crawford was born about 1925 in South Dakota

2nd Cousin 2x removed

MIA, declared dead November 25, 1944 in the Pacific Theater. He was 19.

Private Thomas Maynard Black was born on November 11, 1925 in Davenport, Iowa

3rd Cousin 2x removed

Died March 3, 1945, in the Pacific Theater. He was 19.

TSgt Jack Highland Maltsberger was born on September 17, 1928 in Lake Stevens, Washington

Husband of 2nd cousin 2x removed

Died March 18,  1953 Plane crash Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He was 24.

Captain Thomas Edward Nichols was born on April 1, 1938, in Abilene, Texas

3rd cousin 2x removed

Died on February 1, 1969, in Tân An, Long An, Vietnam. He was 30.

Lieutenant, Junior Grade Thomas Edward Brown was born on September 26, 1941 in Davenport, Iowa

4th Cousin 1x removed

MIA, declared dead April 29, 1966 in North Vietnam. He was 24.

New assignment

On the weekend of April 11, 2021 Father Robert Grosch, the parish priest at Saint Patrick Co-Cathedral in Billings announced his upcoming retirement, effective June 30th.   I am excited to announce that I'll be appointed as the new pastor, effective July 1. I am excited to be returning to Saint Patrick. This was my first assignment as a newly ordained priest.  Please pray for Father Bob as he transitions away from active parish ministry.  Please pray for me as I prepare to make the move to return to Saint Patrick. Pray for Deacon John Pankratz who will be ordained to the priesthood on June 24th and will become the parochial vicar at Saint Patrick.  Father Garrett Nelson will assume the role of pastor at our present assignment at Saint Mary in Livingston.

Armed With the Faith

 The connection between the Knights of Columbus and the Military has existed over a long period of years.  I am proud to say I've been a chaplain for both.  Please check out this video produced by the Knights of Columbus.

https://kofc.org/en/for-members/resources/armedwiththefaith-documentary.html

I've Been Gone for a While - Genealogy Update

It's been a while since I last posted to my blog.  I had a random thought to share.

One of the things I've been working on is my family tree. I can go back at least as far as all eight sets of my great-great-grandparents. Some lines have gone back even further. 

It's been interesting looking at my DNA. I've had test submitted to three different organizations. They've come up with different backgrounds. I thought I show you a comparison 

Ancestry 

Ireland 56% 

England and Northwestern Europe 30% 

Scotland 12% 

Wales 2% 

My Heritage 

Scandinavian 37.8% 

Irish, Scottish, and Welsh 21.0% 

North and West European 19.5% 

Iberian 17.5% 

English 3.3% 

Central Asian 0.9% 

Family Tree DNA 

England, Wales, and Scotland 54% 

Ireland 35% 

Central Europe 9% 

Baltic >2%

As I look at the variations, it makes me wonder if the My Heritage results are showing results of the Viking invasions of the British Isles and Ireland.  

I hope I remember to hope on here a little more frequently again.