In Spalding, Nebraska, Sister Fran Kersjes and I “crashed” at St. Michael’s Parish rectory after our strenuous schedule of church visits in the diocese of Grand Island, following an eight-hour trip from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Father Don Buhrman graciously put together a delicious spaghetti supper complete with Italian wine. We are most gracious for his generous hospitality.

Frannie and I presented the folks with an appeal, and we were in at home base with the solid citizens of this friendly, helpful community, which is 99 percent Catholic. Their faith, fueled in church, ripples via their village life.

Norma came to clean the rectory, and we got to talking in Spanish. Norma and her husband Fabian came from Mexico and lived in Omaha, where their three children were born: Junior, 14, Valerie, 11, and David, 5. Three years ago, they came to this little town of Spalding.

Frannie and I were walking that evening when Valerie came to invite us to have watermelon with her mom and little brother, and so we enjoyed a lively visit. Norma told us that she is the only woman in town who can’t speak English. Only her sister-in-law speaks Spanish, but she is so busy, she can’t talk with Norma.

So Norma is very isolated. I asked her if she would like to learn English, and “Yes!” was Norma’s answer. So I contacted Martha, a retired schoolteacher, to help her. Martha will also invite the family into greater involvement in the community.

As we finished our watermelon, Fabian returned from work with Junior. They had been chasing cows all day. After chatting with us, Norma’s husband was called to repair a car, and Junior went to play basketball. All this without supper! Norma told us they rarely eat supper, having eaten at work during the day.

I am so grateful to God, Maryknoll and the Grand Island diocese for the grace to meet these great people with their gracious, talented pastor.

Wherever we have gone — Detroit, Cedar Rapids, Grand Island and St. Paul-Minneapolis — the Church has been alive and well, led by faithful and committed pastors and leaders, with responsive, generous people. Alleluia!