Hey, Phil!

Maybe that is why they are called "smart phones."
First thing I see on my phone screen this morning is the information that Punxsutawney Phil has announced that spring is near and we will have a shortened winter.
Then came the second item.
"But don't get your hopes up. He is usually wrong."
Smart phone indeed!
Anyhow, that got me to some memories. You see, I have actually been to Punxsutawney. Or perhaps more correctly, I have been through Punxsutawney. It was on my way to Rossiter, Pennsylvania. And, yes, there is such a place as Rossiter, Pennsylvania. Google it!
I did and discovered that presently, according to the 2010 census, it is considered a CDP, census designated place.
Never heard that term before actually. A "census designated place."
Not a city; not a village; not a town even.
A census designated place.
Which means a place where people live, a group of people. In the case of Rossiter according to the 2010 census that group of people totals 646.
I believe it.
When I visited there, back in the 1960's, I nearly missed it completely. Drove right through and then realized, "Oops! That was it!"
And so what was I doing in a place like that?
Tracing a bit of family history.
My mom's family originally settled there. Back then Rossiter was a booming coal mining town.
I went there because a handful of family still lived there.
I got to spend some time with them.
They took me to the original and only parish church in Rossiter. At that time it was St. Francis of Assisi but, evidently, this has clustered and is now a part of Resurrection Parish. The old church, however, still stands! And Mass there this Sunday is at 8:30 AM It's for John Kollar from his wife, Evelyn and family.
I also got to see the field where my grandparents once lived. OK - when grandma and grandpa Kopas  lived there, there were houses but the houses are long gone as is the coal mine and so what remains is a field.
And I had dinner with the remaining Rossiter Kopas family members.
I got in touch with some roots.
And to get there I had to pass through Punxsutawney.
Didn't see Phil there.
Probably was in hiding for his wrong call for that year.
Besides, it was summer when I made that trip.
And the weather was summery.
And the sun was shining.
And poor Phil was probably hiding from his shadow.


This Week's Parish Bulletin (Resurrection Parish - Rossiter)