These are some photos from my recent visit to St. Therese parish in the mountain village of Gaspard. We were supposed to go up on Wed. Nov. 19, but Fr. Phechner had gone to visit his father who is sick, and the heavy rains caused Trois Rivieres to flood (again). Fr. Phechner was stranded on the other side for 2 days. He was able to cross on Friday, and we finally set off for Gaspard about noon. The road was very muddy and slippery, but we made it to TiQuoin, the drop-off point, about 2 PM. Mr. and Mrs Adlee and their new baby, Max Allen, had come with us from PdPaix. Our concern was that the threatening rain would start again as we were making the 2 hour hike to Gaspard. We arrived in front of St. Therese Church at 4 PM, and two minutes later, the rain began----and continued for 4 days, almost non-stop.
A visit to Gaspard always generates feelings of amazement and awe in my heart---to see what the priest and the people can do when they work together in such very difficult circumstances. Fr Kerny began the work, and Fr. Phechner is continuing.
1. Fr. Phechner standing by his pick-up after reaching TiQuoin. Baby Max and his mother are waiting patiently.
2. Loading the mule for the 2 hour hike.
3. Fr. Phechner standing by the newly-stuccoed church wall.
4. Fr. Phechner celebrating the Mass of Christ the King. Even with the heavy rain and mud, there were about 200 people who came to the Mass
