My dear friends at Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church,

 

I wanted to offer you a brief personal update on my week and my current whereabouts.

 

One of the interesting surprises about getting older is discovering that sometimes the body has opinions and plans of its own. Unfortunately, during Mass on Tuesday afternoon, while genuflecting, my quadriceps tendon decided to make its thoughts known in rather dramatic fashion. Snap. Crackle. Pop. Yikes!

 

On Wednesday, I met with Dr. Patrick Ellender and underwent both an X-ray and MRI, which confirmed a fully snapped and detached quadriceps tendon in my right knee. Surgery took place Friday morning at 8:30 am, and thanks be to God, everything went very well. Dr. Ellender was very pleased with how the procedure went, which has been a great relief and blessing.

 

I am now back on the island, safely settled in at the rectory, and resting well. I feel deeply grateful—truly, I could not be more thankful for the care, support, and kindness that surround me right now. For the moment, the plan is simple: go slow, stay smart, and allow the healing to begin.

 

For the next couple of weekends, we will have priests covering Masses for me while I focus on recovery. Part of that recovery will, God willing, allow me to return to celebrating Mass as soon as that is safe, but it may be a couple of weeks before we are there. In the meantime, please know that you will be well cared for and loved.

 

This weekend, we are especially blessed by the generosity of two excellent priests. For the Vigil Mass on Saturday afternoon, as well as Sunday at 9:30 and 11 am, we welcome Fr. Brice Higginbotham, a devoted priest of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chackbay, who is on the island for retreat. He has been extraordinarily generous this week and will serve you very well.

 

At the 8 am Mass on Sunday, we welcome Fr. Mark Thelen, LC, a priest of the Legionaries of Christ. Though originally from the United States, he is currently serving in Europe on the front lines of evangelization. He too will care for you well, and I know you will receive him warmly.

 

I am very grateful for your prayers, your support, and your encouragement. Please continue to pray for me as I recover, and be assured of my prayers for you.

 

With gratitude and affection,

​

Fr. Mark