Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Another semester ends

I just completed my last class for the semester.  I still have 1 paper, two take home finals and an oral final to complete before I leave.

I am taking my time about going home to Maine as there are many Christmas events that I wish to attend.  These include White Christmas in Boston, several parties and a Boston Seminarian's event.

One month from today is my diaconate ordination, God willing.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

I give thanks...

...for family, those still here and those who have passed, who have always supported me

...for friends, who are there when you need them and lift you up

...for health,  as I see those who struggle and persevere with their health issues, mine seem so minor

...for a free, but crazy country, where we have freedoms and rights unimagined elsewhere

...for a priestly vocation, after another marriage vocation, as I move from one call to another

...for a God that loves us unconditionally, no matter who we are or what we do.


Monday, November 17, 2014

R.I.P. to my big sister

Last weekend, at 3:41 on Saturday morning, I got the call I had been dreading.  My sister lost her battle to her brain tumor.  My pastoral supervisor sent me packing to Maine as soon as he read the email I sent to him and the Seminary.

I was in Maine for 6 days supporting the family as her daughters and son (and their support systems) managed all the details.  It was a lovely wake, funeral and committal.

The high point of a very low week was the support from the Seminary.  By my count 22 of my brother seminarians made the trip for the wake, funeral, committal or some combination of the above. Two of the faculty from the seminary also made the trip.  My pastor from my home parish came.  My pastoral supervisor came.  Many drove two hours, made a short visit and drove back.   I am awed by their support.

The pastor in Maine offered a rare privileged.   Sacred books must be burned or buried.  My sister was buried with a 1969 Lectionary in her casket. 

I am back at the seminary, trying to cope and grieve.  I have two major papers due in the next 2 weeks.  I have not one word down on paper.  I have no motivation to start.  God help me.




Monday, October 27, 2014

Retreats and changes

My class made our annual retreat from 10/12-10/17.  I spent an extra night to make it go until 10/18.  Why? Well, I made it my canonical retreat.  Before each ordination, the candidate must spend 5 consecutive 24 hour periods on retreat.  That means 6 nights.  The other men made these canonical retreats before their ordinations.  There are 4 left in my class to be ordained as deacons.

We stayed at Marie Joseph Spiritual Center in Biddeford Pool, Maine.  It is an old hotel, a bit mysterious, a bit creaky, but a wonderful place right on the ocean.




Some changes have taken place at the Seminary as well.  As is normal, we have lost a couple of the first year men.  Some men always discern out in the weeks just before or just after the retreat.  Please continue to pray for them as you pray for us.

We celebrated out 50th Anniversary as a Seminary at our annual Alumni Days event.  You've probably seen those pictures on Face Book.  The keynote speaker was the US Ambassador to the Vatican.  The Vatican shared the Seminary's FaceBook page and 30,000 people saw our page in 1 day.
(BTW, with great humility, the pictures on this page and the Face Book page were taken by this amateur photographer)

Monday, October 20, 2014

A Red Letter Day

Today, Monday October 20th, along with one other member of my class, I will make my Oath of Fidelity and Profession of Faith before our evening Mass.  If you are interested in the text, you can find it here.


This is a big step that must be done in public some time before ordination.    We do it here in front of the Seminary student body in a very formal ceremony.


In even BIGGER news, I was just informed by the Rector of the Seminary, that Cardinal Sean has sent a letter with my "Call to Orders" for Diaconate ordination on January 10th, 2015.

Friday, October 10, 2014

What classes this semester?

People have been asking what classes I am taking this semester.

Canon Law of Marriage
Theology of the Eucharist
Writings of John
Eucharist Practicum (how to say Mass)
My assignment counts as a class as well

My elective is Parish Pastoral Administration

Every Friday afternoon I am off to the parish and I am there until Sunday afternoon.

This semester feels a bit like one of those European tours.  If this is Tuesday, it must be Venice.
I have to check my calendar every morning to see where I am supposed to be that day.

There have been several events scheduled by the diocese that I have to be at as well.  Gotta pay attention, gotta check my schedule.




Saturday, October 4, 2014

The best laid plans...

What is that saying?  Want to see God laugh? Just tell Him your plans.

I had plans and permissions from the Seminary and my weekend supervisor.
    Seminary Lawn Party on Wednesday night, drive to assignment to sleep
    Drive to Hull, Wake and Funeral on Thursday, drive to Maine
    Wake on Thursday, Funeral on Friday, drive to assignment
    Permanent Deacon Ordinations on Saturday.
Instead, I was flat on my back for 4 days with a 3 degree fever.  That was two weeks ago and I am just back to feeling 100% now.

Now, I am SURE that God did not set me up to be sick.  But it is a good reminder that we cannot do everything that we want to do.  Sometimes we cannot even do the things that we should do or have to do.

So, here are some more plans...
I have permission from the Seminary to take Monday off and go to a funeral.  We shall see...


Saturday, September 13, 2014

Sad post...

Sad posts are hard to write and edit...

Three women who have been a part of my life are on my mind today.  It always seems to come in threes...

First, Mary, a parishioner from Hull has passed into the Lord's hands.  She "adopted" me when I was in Hull the summer of 2013.  She has sent me letters and bulletins every week, prayer cards and checks on a regular basis.  I was waiting to surprise her with the news that her checks paid for my new chalice.  I was hoping to show it to her next month when it came back from the jewelers.  She knows now, I am sure.  Rest in peace Mary.

Second, Mrs. D. is in hospice now.  She is my wife's brother's mother-in-law.  That may not be a direct relation, but she was a big part of that side of my family's life.  They tell me that she is declining quickly.  May the Lord's plan be fulfilled.

Thirdly, and most personally, my sister is back in  rehab.  The brain tumor is not growing, but she has most of the symptoms of a stoke (but there was no stoke).  The doctors don't really know what happened, but she was mostly unresponsive for 2 days.  She may or may not be coming home after the stay in rehab.  The doctors have suspended her chemotherapy until they know more.  Only time will tell if home or assisted living is in her future.  She is in her 28th month after diagnosis.  The average lifespan is 15 months for this brain tumor.  God's will be done.

Your prayers are welcome.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Petition for Ministry of Diaconate


September 7,2014
Sean Patrick Cardinal O'Malley, OFM. Cap.
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA    02184

Your Eminence,


As a Candidate for Priesthood of the Archdiocese of Boston and in my fourth year of theology at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, I respectfully request that you call me to the Order of Deacon.

I declare that I make this petition of my own free will and intend to spend my life in the service of the Church. In doing so, I freely and fully accept all the obligations that will be mine upon receiving Holy Orders.

I understand the lifelong commitment to celibate service and embrace it freely. I accept completely the obligation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours faithfully in the name of the Church.

I also understand that upon ordination to the Diaconate, l will be incardinated as a cleric of the Archdiocese of Boston and am prepared to make a lifelong commitment of obedience to you and your successors.

Indeed, I make this request of my own free will, with no other motive than the service of the Church. I am fully prepared to undertake all obligations related to the diaconal ministry.

As I request this call to Diaconate and accept its obligations, I rely on the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to help me persevere in my vocation.

Asking your blessing and prayers, I remain
    Sincerely yours in Christ,

    Christopher L. Lowe

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Mass of the Holy Spirit

Pictures from the event
Cardinal Sean

 Concelebrants

 Class of 2015
 Student Body

Boston Seminarians @ Pope St John Seminary

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Back at the Seminary

25 new seminarians arrived and unloaded, fed and tucked into their rooms.
They begin their 5 days of orientation.
Their years here begin...

My final year at the seminary has begun...
Classes start Friday.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Musings

Lots and lots of musings...

I have had to change my plans on when to return to the seminary.  I had planned on Thursday the 21st, but now I have to return on Tuesday the 19th.  The Vocation Office has realized that the only picture that they have of me is in a suit taken in September 2011.  They don't want to use that for the poster since I will be a 4th Theology seminarian this year (top row? maybe!)  Since the photographer is only available on the 19th and 20th, I have to be back in Boston by then. The joys of living in Maine but studying for Boston.

This is not a crisis since I am also the co-lead for the Orientation of the new men this year.  They arrive on Saturday the 23rd.  As co-lead, I am half responsible for assembling the orientation manuals for the new men.  I have about half of the material I need, the rest is in the hands of the faculty and staff there.  I just need to get copies into my hands and start photocopying and assembling manuals.  That has not worked out well via email.  It should work better if I stand in their doorways.

I have been preparing my family for this moment for some time, but when I leave Maine this time, it ends the periods of long vacations here.  This was my last summer vacation with them (2 weeks before assignment and 4 weeks after).  I'll be home for Thanksgiving, Christmas (last time I'll be free on Christmas) and then the spring breaks.  After ordination, my time with family will be much rarer.  They understand this on one level, but I don't think they understand the impact on them.  When I am here, I cook, clean, run errands, coordinate the nightly movies, answer 1000 questions, maintain the condo they live in.  (this summer, new pantry, heating system refurbishment, new living room windows, etc.) There will be less of that as well as less of my presence.

It will be good to get back to the seminary just so that I can get a break from those chores.  I work harder physically at the condo in Maine than I do at my assignments or at the seminary.


Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Vacation

I am heading off to an undisclosed location in Maine for two days and two nights of quiet, "me" time.   Call it a small mini-retreat if you will. 

It has been two weeks since I left my assignment.  When I get back from my vacation on Thursday, it will be two weeks until I return to the seminary.  Where has the summer break gone?

Friday, August 1, 2014

Save the Dates

God willing, of course...


Ordination to Deacon - January 10th, 2015

Ordination to Priest - May 23rd, 2015