Funeral Homily of Fr. Michael James Arkins SSS (1945–2024)
by Father John Thomas Lane SSS, Provincial Superior and Pastor
I met Father Michael Arkins at our Provincial Chapter in April 1988 in Burlingame, California. I was the first novice to ever get to go to a provincial chapter. … My novice master said, “Help this guy; he’s going to the store to get our chapter snacks and drinks. He’s a very key person for us to survive this meeting!” That’s when I met Mike, and we jumped into a van. During the drive and subsequent time at the store, Mike shared a bit of his history with the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, and I learned about his gentle, soft-spoken style of humble, unassuming service.
When we returned to the retreat center, folks immediately said to me, upon seeing me with Mike, “Did he talk to you?” I was surprised by the comments. I did not know that Mike was a shy, quiet man.
Talking and listening. Yes, Mike did not talk in a group unless he had something to say. And when he spoke, he had something to say! He made very thoughtful and brilliant salient points. He always knew how to be a strong follower of his call and vocation as a disciple of Christ.
FDLC Annual Liturgy Convention Report from Pittsburgh
By John Thomas Lane SSS, Provincial
It was nice to take a day off, two hours away in Pittsburgh, PA, and attend the annual national liturgy meeting there. While it is usually a 3-day event, I attended a day and a half to hear the latest on publishing timelines for our liturgical books, attend two Masses, and a few talks on the theme: “Bridges of Hope: Merging Parishes.” The crux of the keynote talks featured ways we can evangelize, market, and live our parish community by anticipating changes and preparing others to join our community. The main focus from OCP Presenter Matthew Reichert – be creative! Keep trying new things and opportunities to invite people to be part of a parish, a ministry or become, in our case, members (especially for us, Associates of the Blessed Sacrament).
