Well this is a nice surprise. I didn’t know some of my fellow members were praying for Fr. Allard. I was made aware of it through a PM.
I’ve been a personal assistant to Fr. Allard since the year 2000. I think it’s okay to share some info w/ you, so you have a better idea what we’re praying for. Trishie, thanks so much for the prayers, but considering post # 36, you should know that since the year 2000, he’s been in long term/ palliative care. The pneumonia is not an uncommon thing, but this one was threatening to carry him away. He remains institutionalized.
Condition since 2000 : Half paralyzed from a stroke, suffering from advanced Parkinson’s and borderline diabetic. For all intents and purposes, only one arm works to a very limited extent now; electronic wheelchair, but not able to drive well since the last bout of pneumonia. He’s always had trouble swallowing (not uncommon after a stroke and/or w/ the advance of Parkinsons).
Often in patients w/ swallowing problems, food can accidentally go into the lungs and start a bout of pneumonia.
Since 2000, he has been unable to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass by himself. He concelebrates with the chaplain several times a week, or has been able to preside at a private Mass with a specially trained lay assistant (yours truly) on alternate days.
If anyone has ever understood just how severely institutionalization and illness can undermine a person’s autonomy, then they’ll know just how precious a priest in his condition being able/enabled to preside is.
He’s quite weakened now and is only gotten up for several hours a day. The last time he was able to preside was on the feast of the Assumption, while he was battling pneumonia.
Today, against all the odds- against what all the medical professionals were saying, Fr. Allard was able to preside. I had a very hard time understanding this and was unwilling to go along with his wish (actually it was more of a demand
) at first… seeing as only yesterday, I’d brought him a small morsel of Holy Communion while he was in bed and even when placing several drops of water (thickened w/ a special powder) on his tongue, to facilitate consumption ,he began to cough and choke on it.
It’s been a real journey of faith with him. We’ve always prayed that he’d be able to celebrate the Mass until the end. What I didn’t know was how far God was willing to go to grant this prayer. Today I witnessed nothing short of a small miracle as Fr. Allard (though some of his determination might be deemed adamant) presided and celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with greater ease than he did on the feast of the Assumption. At the end of the Mass he was quite spent and was soon put back in bed.
All of this is easier to understand now that I know you’ve been praying for him too. I know some of this information is personal, but when we know our prayers are bearing fruit, it spurs us on to bolder prayers; to a deeper faith.
Today, that Mass was celebrated in honour of our Blessed Mother w/ a special request for Her intercession for the holy souls in Purgatory. Your prayers for him were united to our Blessed Mother’s prayers and your prayers helped the holy souls today too.
What an awesome faith we have been given.
Thanks for your prayers, I’ll be sure to tell Fr. Allard on Sunday Sept 6th, that you are praying for him.
…Won’t be able to give you as many details since a lot of it is personal, but I will keep you informed on him - because you’re praying for him. Thanks so much for starting this thread and for participating in it. You’re praying for a very dear priest soul who has carried a heavy cross a long time and who served in Africa as a misssionary for more than 12 years too. He’s been a priest for more than 55 years now.
God bless you all.
Your brother in Christ and in His gentle Mother,
NI.
