SUPER SHUTTLE SACRAMENTO TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES HOUSTON.............

A smooth, if long journey from Sacramento to Houston today for the NCPD Convention that opens tonight.  The 7:40 a.m. flight from Sacramento landed in Phoenix for a plane change and then a 2:40 p.m. arrival in Houston.  It then took more than 2 hours to go from the airport ton the hotel. After check in and a quick dinner it was time for the Opening Session and Welcoming Reception which included Prayer led by the Retired Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza; tonight's Keynote Address by a St. Louis layman born without arms and yet an accomplished and inspiring active participant in ministry and business; and the merger ceremony between the 45 year old National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry, (N.A.f.I.M.) and the now 31 years of the National Catholic Partnership for Disability (N.C.P.D.).  An impressive start to this weekend's convocation it was.  My initial personal  interaction with N.C.P.D. concluded on this first night with an exchange of greeting and introduction with Dr. Nancy Thompson, who is the  N.C.P.D. Director of Programs and Diocesan Relations.  A great start plugging in to this indispensable Catholic outreach ministry.............Fr.  Troy David