The Application continues

I met with Fr. H., the vocation director this evening.  All is progressing nicely.  Every interviewer had the same red flag (It may be too early to enter the seminary since it has not even been a year since his wife died).  But every interviewer also said based on the longer term calling (since Junior High), it is probably not a problem.

I'll be getting information in the next week about the psychological screening.   I should expect an answer about sponsorship at the end of January or beginning of February.  That will be just in time for the next vocation retreat.

A Quiet Time

There is not a lot going on from my standpoint with the application process.  I have completed the 2 interviews with priests.  Next will be the psychological screening.  I still need to write a 2 page essay on my understanding and appreciation of the priesthood.

I know that my reference letters are coming in slowly.  I've received copies of a couple.  They are treasured reading. 

I continue to meet with my spiritual adviser.  He is a godsend in my life.  I am scheduled to meet with Fr H in the vocation office a couple days after Thanksgiving.  I'm sure I'll have an update after that meeting.

Interviews

I met with Fr. N. on Monday to complete my cycle of interviews with priests.  In my opinion, it went well.  It was a good conversation with some tougher questions than I've had at other interviews.  I guess I'll find out how it went soon.  

Interviews

I met with the "other Fr. H." in the vocation office on Wednesday night.  He is one of two priests that I need to interview with as part of the application process.  The interview went very well, in my opinion.  There were a lot of back and forth conversations.   I think I handled the questions he posed well.  I left with a good feeling about the interview.  Now to interview with Fr. N. on Monday.

The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius

Each year I see the invitation and there is always a reason to say "no".  There are many reasons to say "no" this year as well, but I said "yes".  I'll make the time and find a way to make it happen.

excerpt from the announcement...
The Spiritual Exercises begin on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 and end on May 11, 2011 - at 23 week time of grace and prayer - we will meet weekly on Wednesday evenings  - the weekly meetings begin at 7 PM and end at 9 PM - the daily prayer commitment is about an hour or so - this is the 15th year we are offering the Spiritual Exercises

Spiritual Autobiography - Part 6 - Priesthood and Ministry

My first memories that I can recall about becoming a priest were in elementary school as an altar server. I pictured myself on the altar celebrating the Mass.

Every time that I have pictured myself as a priest, it has been in a parish. I think the daily life of celebrating the Eucharist and working with the community of believers is what has attracted me to the diocesan priesthood rather than a religious order. I know that the ordered priest has these same opportunities, but it is not their focus.

Well, it is certainly not the weather that is drawing me to Boston. I’ve lived in Maine and Massachusetts for most of my life. I like the local ties, my family is mostly in Maine and New Hampshire. It also occurs to me that the Archdiocese is in need of priests. With the recent problems here, I feel God is calling me to help mend bridges. I know that sounds less than humble, but it is the feeling that I get. Maybe I can help a little to bring a bit of faith and trust back to a parish and community.

I’ve admired Father JS since I first met him. To me, he is the model of a parish priest. I’ve never seen him get upset. Even when he has to correct someone, he does it with gentleness and love. He seems full of life and humor. Yet, he can be serious and explain concepts so that even I understand.

I can think of two long term ministries that I have been involved with. First is the music ministry. I started playing the organ at Mass in junior high school. I’ve had a pretty much unbroken streak since that time. Our music group prays together before Mass and prays that we are instruments for God and are encouraging to congregation to participate. When I sing or cantor, I try to pray the words that I am singing and remind myself that it is not about me, it is about God. I have also volunteered at local (and not so local) prisons for the last 10 years. I attend faith sharing, Eucharistic services and retreats as I can. While many think this is a great sacrifice, I get more out of those experiences than I put in. God is present in the men in prison. Their faith is amazing to those of us who see it.

The idea of being a priest has crossed my mind since I was an altar server. I considered it in high school and in college. If I had not met Carmen in college, it may have happened long ago. About a week after Carmen died, the proverbial two by four hit me in the head. It was like God saying, “Now will you come and be a priest for me?” Since then, there are been many little signs of encouragement (more coincidences?) along the path. I don’t know if I have a vocation or not. But I am willing to quit my job and spend the time discerning at the seminary to find out.

Spiritual Autobiography - Part 5 - Personal Faith and Religion

My first experience of the presence of God was at Mass in the Newman Center at college. In that stark concrete building filled with other college students, I sensed His presence in the Eucharist. Since that time, I’ve discovered God in the coincidences in my life. Some of these things are just impossible without some divine prodding to make them happen.

Since I’ve been on this path towards becoming a seminarian, I’ve been praying the morning and evening prayers from the Divine Office most every day. I’ve been taking some time at night for quiet prayer, reflection on the day and giving thanks. I also participate in the Mass and other forms of group prayer with vigor.

I learn a lot about God from my spiritual directors, from my readings of Christian and Catholic books, from listening to peoples stories. I’ve been blessed with many wonderful examples of God’s love in the form of people in my life.

To me “church” is about the people gathered to worship God. It is not about the building, but the living Christ in each of us gathering to be one. I am blessed to be part of a very active parish. I have lent my skills to the RCIA program, Generations of Faith (Adult Education), Living with Christ, Cursillo, prison outreach (retreats, visits and Eucharistic services) and, of course, 35 years as a church musician (organist, choir member, cantor). I am a cradle Catholic and while I have had times where I went pretty rote, I never left the Church.

I’ve questioned some of the Church’s teachings, but never felt at odds with the Church. I frequently find that when I study the teaching, I get a better understanding of the Church’s position.

The Church does need to be a voice for good in the world. I have seen this done most effectively at the parish level with good and pastoral priests. It is unfortunate that in today’s world, proclamations from the Vatican are mostly ignored and ridiculed. Perhaps local growth and resurgence of the faith is the best approach.

Spiritual Autobiography - Part 4 - Outlook on Life

I guess my philosophy of life is this: Take each day as it comes. Try to do a little good where you can. I try to remember my wife’s wisdom: There are no bad days, just bad moments.

I’m a pretty good organist and a poor pianist. I’ve been told that I am an excellent public speaker (Thanks Toastmasters). I’m not a brilliant conversationalist, but I’m a pretty good listener. I am very good at organizing and starting activities, but then step back to let others run with them.

Exercise and I are not the best of friends. I exercise because I must to keep my Type 2 diabetes (my only significant health issue) under control. Most of my exercise is brisk walking either outside or on my treadmill. I walk with neighbors if our schedules allow.

My free time will find me puttering around the house, playing games, browsing the internet or exchanging online correspondence on the computer. I’m a voracious reader splitting my reading between Christian books and science fiction. I do also watch TV and movies and playing the organ/piano. I have a lot of interests and spread my time among them.

I’m pretty easy going and don’t get anxious too often. When I do, it’s when a new pain or sensation makes me ponder my mortality. I’ve found that the Jesus Prayer helps me through this when it happens.

I think people describe me as stoic, easy going, reserved, or multidimensional depending on how well they know me. I do know that I have a dry sense of humor and people don’t always get my jokes. My friends do tell me that I have an easy smile.

I find that I really look forward to two completely different things. I really anticipate my trips to Disneyworld. I love the feel of the place, the enthusiasm, the “let’s all have some fun” attitude there. I love teaching Adult Education at church, leading and being on team at prison retreats and Cursillos.

The most significant emotional event in my life was the loss of my friend and wife of 30 years in December 2009. While we knew it was coming as she battled a disease for 11 years, it was still a blow. I miss her more than I can describe.

Spiritual Autobiography - Part 3 - Education and Employment

Throughout my school years, I was always a bit of an outsider. I was too clumsy to be an athlete, too square to be cool and frankly a bit of a teacher’s pet. I had friends to hang around with in school and as I grew older, at their house or mine. I was in band and chorus in junior and senior high school. I was also on the A/V team and to this day dabble in A/V. I had the opportunity to attend the local Catholic high school, but passed it up for the public school. So, the only formal religious education I had in these years was weekly CCD at my parish.

In high school, I discovered that I was very good at chemistry and liked it. A variant of that, chemical engineering, became my major in college. I graduated with a BS in that field. College was a wonderful time to find myself, not so wonderful a time to get good grades. I did well in my major, but did not apply myself to the electives. I was very busy teaching astronomy in the planetarium (20+ hours a week). I was also playing the organ at the Newman Center Sunday liturgies. I spent a lot of my spare time with the members of the Newman Center folk group. My future wife was a guitarist in that group. When I went back for my M.S. in computer science many years later, I had a much more serious attitude towards learning and did quite well in my studies

My lack of discipline at college presented some job search problems. I was rejected by dozens of major companies and finally started at a small leather manufacturing company in Maine. Two years later, after Carmen and I married, my seventeen year tenure with Digital Equipment started. Over the last thirty plus years of employment, I’ve been an individual contributor and a supervisor. I’ve loved many of my jobs, tolerated one or two and only disliked one. I guess the one job that I disliked was at a time when Carmen was having serious medical issues. My manager was a few years out of college and did not support the flexibility I needed as a caregiver.

In almost every job, I’ve ended up as the unofficial leader. I’m the person co-workers come to when they need to talk or need advice. I’m OK with that. I’ve been a supervisor; it is not a fun job in today’s corporate environment.

Spiritual Autobiography - Part 2 - Relationships

I make friends slowly. My mother always said, “You can count your friends on one hand.” I think I have lived by that idiom. I have many acquaintances, but only a few true friends.

I have one friend as a neighbor, but the rest of my friends are people from my parish in the next town. We see each other a couple of times a week and that helps to build the relationship. They have been there for me and I for them in times of trouble in our lives. They encourage me and correct me and help me to be a better person.

I have both male and female friends and acquaintances. I have had many platonic relationships with women. In retrospect, I don’t see a lot of difference in my relationships between men and women. Our discussion and activities may vary based on our mutual interests, but the respect and affection for each of them is similar.

I am comfortable with my own sexuality. It is part of me, but the “eros” in me does not control my life. I see friendship as being prevalent in my relationships. My wife and I started off as acquaintances, moved to friendship, and then fell in love. Even when we had difficulties as husband and wife, we still had our friendship to fall back upon.

Spiritual Autobiography - Part 1 - Family

I grew up as the youngest of three in South Portland, Maine. This house was my family home from the time I was born until well after I graduated from college. I was younger than my next sibling by almost ten years, so I watched and learned a lot from them. My sister, the oldest, was a second mother to me. We were not rich by any means, but I never wanted for the basics in life. There were no children my age in the immediate neighborhood, so I learned how to entertain myself. I remember looking forward to times when neighbor’s relatives would visit and I could play with kids my own age. Looking back, I would say I had a normal, happy childhood. There were hiccups in life, of course, but nothing that I recall that shook my world.

Religion was present in the house. Mom was a cradle Catholic and Dad converted to marry her. The cross was hanging in many rooms. Grace was the norm before dinner, but I don’t recall it before any other meal. We did go to Mass every Sunday and on Holy Days. My brother and I were both altar servers. I wanted to play the organ at Mass and did start doing that in Junior High.

My parents were both great. I was closer to my Mom while Dad was the more distant provider. They rarely had to punish me as I learned what not to do from my older siblings. I’ve always had a good relationship with both of my parents. I’ve been able to talk to them about almost anything. Our family was not great about showing emotion, but over the years we have broken down those barriers. We always greet and depart now with a hug. Saying, “I Love You” is common now as well. My mother developed Alzheimer’s several years ago and passed away in July 2010. Dad and I have become good friends during this time. He visits often and we phone on a regular basis.

Progess to report

My references have told me that they are receiving their letters from the vocation office. 

I got an email from Fr. H. telling me to contact 2 other priests and set up interviews with them...