19 Comments
User's avatar
Malani Antoinette's avatar

Wonderful, Fr ! Thanks for sharing 🙂This story brought a smile to my face. Perhaps , you should consider writing a children’s book with this theme? God Bless!

Expand full comment
Joseph L. Wiess's avatar

Tres pro Tribus

The good father writes

Stories about birds on Roman Roofs

Of white smoke and a new Papa

Who calls to the masses

Long may he live

Handing out Papal passes.

Expand full comment
Charles Larrivee's avatar

B i r b s 😍😍😍

Expand full comment
Faith's avatar

Awww I LOVED this story!!! 🥹 so pure and beautiful!!

Expand full comment
Father Roderick's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Faith's avatar

You’re welcome!

Expand full comment
Barb Gilman's avatar

My 3rd graders loved the story! We had already named our family Jeff, Jennifer and baby JJ. But we enjoyed your names too. We give your story 5 stars! Barb Gilman, St. Margaret Mary School Omaha, Nebraska

Expand full comment
Rita Petra Keller's avatar

Now that's the one that first caught my eye on Threads. As I was also following events in Rome...

those seagulls sensed that something good was in the air!

Expand full comment
Prue Ng's avatar

I create substack account and log in just to like and comment on your story, Father! This is such a lovely story, the seagull family has been getting a lot of attention these days. God Bless you Father!

Expand full comment
Diana Castro's avatar

Aww! Nice story ☺️

Expand full comment
Amy Mantravadi's avatar

Perfecto!

Expand full comment
Michael Blissenbach's avatar

Excellently written! You have a real talent, Father!

Expand full comment
Mariella Hunt's avatar

This was an adorable story! Thank you for sharing it!

Expand full comment
Thomas Salerno's avatar

Delightful! You've done it again, Father. You've got the makings of a children's book writer in you, I think.

Expand full comment
Father Roderick's avatar

That’s the career I dreamed of when I was 12. It took me a while, but I’m finally following my heart 😄

Expand full comment
Thomas Salerno's avatar

Go for it! Writing my first children's book was one of the best experiences of my life!

Expand full comment
Father Roderick's avatar

I’ve been telling short stories to children during Mass for years, so there’s definitely something there. Some of the short stories I’m writing now might even be more suited for children. That said, I’m a bit cautious about diving into too many projects before finishing the first draft of my fantasy novel—otherwise, it may never see the light of day! 😅

Expand full comment
Thomas Salerno's avatar

Oh, I totally understand that! This week I've had to be brutally honest with myself about which projects are distractions from my core mission. I've been allowing my second children's book to fall by the wayside while I pursued other stories that were dead ends. It's time to reorient my creative life back to the projects that give me energy instead of taking it away.

Expand full comment
Father Roderick's avatar

Yes! I’m in a similar situation when it comes to how I spend my time. I’ve always felt a sense of duty to maintain my existing media projects out of loyalty to the people who enjoy them. But since I started writing seriously this year, I feel like I’ve tapped into the central vein of a creative force that had only trickled in the past. It’s like Bilbo’s butter and toast however—focus and restraint are the keys to better output and better health.

Expand full comment