Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Serving where I can

I had the opportunity to serve twice this weekend.  One was planned, the other completely unplanned.

I had planned and did serve at a seminary brother's ordination to the priesthood here in Maine on Saturday.  It was a beautiful ceremony in Lewiston, Maine.  Bishop Malone of the Portland Diocese , soon to be Bishop Malone of the Buffalo Diocese, presided.  I was the cross bearer and for those in the lingo, a potted plant for the rest of the ceremony.

On Sunday, the priest stopped by before Mass and said, "We need a lector".  I said, "yes", then checked the readings... ouch.   You know the reading...

 "We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."

I may have messed up on Phrygia, but it went pretty well overall.  Thanks for the chance to serve.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Chapel under renovation

The chapel at our seminary is under complete renovation this summer.   For reference, it used to look like this.  When I visited last weekend to get my bicycle, it looked like this.

The rector seemed pleased with the progress and that is good news.  He is very concerned that it be complete by the time the new guys get there at the end of August.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

My life outside the seminary

From now until June 2nd, I am home in Maine.

Rather than bore you with the mundane life  "on vacation", I'd like to reflect back on the medical issues the family who lives with me in Maine has suffered this year.  With all this going on, I still managed to concentrate on my studies (most days).

You have probably read about my vertigo attack and hospital say last September.

My brother-in-law had a serious heart situation where the doctors told him the next  heart attack would be his last.  They seem to have backed off from that statement, but still.

My dad had a major heart incident while visiting family in Alabama.  He was in the hospital for 5 nights.  He elected to forgo the surgery and oxygen tank.  At 92, he can do whatever he wishes.

My sister just had an aggressive, cancerous, golf ball sized brain tumor removed.  She is starting  followup treatment next week.

It has been an exciting first year at the seminary.  But, thank God, we are all here and still doing OK.

Monday, May 7, 2012

The first year winds down

Today was the last day of classes.  Tonight we have a festive dinner for the 4th year seminarians.  Bon Chance, Class of 2012.

We have already completed one final and 1 final paper for two of our classes.  Still have another paper and an oral final to complete finals week.

Then off to Maine for three weeks with family before my summer assignment.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Wedding Homily #2

    On behalf of Arthur and Karen welcome and thank you for coming to share in their joy during this special moment in their lives.  It is traditional in the church for the priest to offer a few words of reflection.  Since I came to priesthood later in life, I am fortunate to have personal experience of thirty years of marriage to draw upon in these comments. 

    Now humor me when I share this analogy. Some of you may find it odd initially, but I think you will see the connection. This is a place I’m familiar with and, often, think of it when I reflect upon my past marriage.
The analogy: Marriage is like an extended trip to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

    Yes…I noticed a few chuckles…I’m not talking about Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, but the physical place itself. For a few moments, let me take you on this journey and explain why.
    We start on Main Street, USA.  This represents your home life up to this point.  This is where we find friends, families, careers, faith life and religious upbringing.  The gospel today speaks about this, “a wise man built his house on a rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffet the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.”  A solid tradition of love, family life and religion is a rock upon which two people can build a life together.  Choosing to start a marriage together here in the Church in the presence of God is a wonderful sign; an acknowledgment of the source of all strength, our Lord and Savior. A firm commitment to your faith can help set roots on Main Street.
    After leaving Main Street, there are many choices.  Let's go to the right and visit Tomorrowland.  Tomorrow, you will spend the first complete day as husband and wife.  The vows you will make in a few moments will be put into practice tomorrow and every day “until death do you part”.  If I learned anything in my marriage, it is to pay attention to the words of our second reading, “love is patient.. it is not quick-tempered... it does not brood over injury.” For all of your tomorrows, remember to be patient with one another.  Remember your love for each other and remember to forgive each other quickly.  In most marriages there are plenty of opportunities to say, “I'm sorry” and then kiss and make up.  Please don't wait for your spouse to do it first.
    Continuing our circle around the park brings us to Fantasyland.  In deference to Eva and your friends and families, I'll leave that land to your private time and skip right over to Frontierland.    There will be many new frontiers to cross in your life together.  Some already have been handled like living arrangements and custody questions, but more are coming.  They may creep up as pizza toppings, favorite restaurant, how to handle your finances or which car to buy.  As those frontiers come, please keep in mind the words from the first reading today, “and the two of them become one body”.  Through the grace of God, after today, you are a husband and wife, united in God, one body, but still two minds.  Work together on these new frontiers as you find them.  Frontiers can be a bit rough and unpredictable.  Keeping God in a prominent place in your life together can provide a stable point to build upon to handle the rough times.  Visiting that little frontier church can bring a group of like minded new friends into your life to help as well.
    The final place to visit is Adventureland.  Your life together is a new adventure just starting.  Keep the excitement in your life.  Plan each day as a new adventure together.  Plan those days together and you will never have to worry about growing apart.  At times, there may be different plans for adventure, but compromise and love will always win out. Please don't think that I am saying that all your adventures must be together.  Couple time is really important, so is some private time.  Make room for both in your relationship.
    So, I leave you with Father Chris' recipe for a good long marriage. Stay rooted on Main Street, where God, family and love are always present, but also spend your tomorrows conquering new frontiers and having adventures together.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Supervisor's dinner

Our seminarians go out to parishes, nursing homes, hospitals and other locations for pastoral assignments.  We invite the supervisors in for a festive dinner to thank them for their support.  Since I was on the committee, I was asked to take a role.  I took the role of witness speaker.  The topic assigned was "Preparing for the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Vatican II".   Here is the text of my talk.


I am a child of Vatican II.  When Vatican II convened, I was 6 years old.  When it adjourned, I was 9 years old.  My life in the Church, for all practical purposes, has been entirety post Vatican II.  I remember learning my “Prayers at the Foot of the Altar” for Altar boy class in English.  I was in the first class to learn them in English rather than Latin.  So while Latin is the official language of the Church, to me it is a foreign language, not an old familiar friend.  What Mass and parish life was like before Vatican II, I know only from history books and stories.  Some of you are likely shaking your heads at my simplistic views, while others may be remembering your similar stories.

Even with these incomplete credentials of mine, I can suggest that without Vatican II, I would not be standing here before you tonight.  I would probably not be discerning a vocation to the priesthood.   One thing that I know for certain about Vatican II is that it put out a welcome mat to wider participation by the laity in new ways.  You can see that here in tonight's audience.  75% of the seminarians are still laity (although we may forget that on occasion).  Over 60%  of the invited supervisors are members of the laity.  The members of the laity serve a much bigger role in the Church today than they did 50 years ago.

My journey towards the seminary has taken a longer, more indirect path. When I was an altar boy, my parents had friends who loved organ music and soon I was taking organ lessons.  In Junior High School, I left the altar boy ranks and became an organist.  This led to a 42 year avocation (so far) of playing the organ in church.  That regular weekly rehearsal and Sunday Mass kept me in close contact with several churches and their priests as my job moved me around the country.  It has been the backbone of my volunteer Church life and has helped to keep me connected to my parish.

I branched out to teaching religious education for children, confirmation classes, RCIA and my favorite, adult education in the faith.  Later came liturgy committees, parish councils and special committees.  Finally I started volunteering at several prisons and even helped start annual 3 day retreats at those prisons for the inmates.  I am not sure that all of those roles would have been possible before Vatican II and its new focus on the role of the laity.  It certainly provided me with great experiences and insights into parish life since I was involved in so much of it.

When my wife died 2 years ago, God made it clear to me that it was time to spend some serious time on my discernment process.  As I complete my first year here at Blessed John Seminary, I can look back and thank the Holy Spirit for inspiring that new focus on the laity in Vatican II.