I started this blog to chronicle the journey of a seminarian in the hopes that others looking at a similar journey would have more information than I did when I started.
That journey is now over. The seminarian is now a priest.
A new blog may be forthcoming at some time in the future. However, if the first week at the new parish is any indication, it will be some time before there will be time to blog again.
Fr. Chris
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Decision Time
It is time to make a decision. I was ordained a priest on May 23rd, so I am no longer a Seminarian on the Journey.
Do I stop blogging altogether?
Do I move to Priest on a Journey?
You few dedicated readers can help me decide with your input.
Fr. Chris
Do I stop blogging altogether?
Do I move to Priest on a Journey?
You few dedicated readers can help me decide with your input.
Fr. Chris
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Philadephia Ordinations
As I type this, the first two of my seminary classmates are being ordained in Philadelphia. I am unable to attend in person because I am entering silent retreat in a couple of hours in preparation for my own ordination in one week. Fortunately, more and more dioceses are live streaming these ordinations so I can watch from a distance and share with them that way.
God Bless the newly ordained Fr. James Cardosi and Fr. Kevin Mulligan.
God Bless the newly ordained Fr. James Cardosi and Fr. Kevin Mulligan.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
4 years are complete
Chris Lowe, you've just completed four years of studies at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary. Now what are you going to do?
I'm going to Disney World!
Will be gone for 6 nights with some family members. I'll be back in time for a couple days of packing before my Canonical Retreat.
I'm going to Disney World!
Will be gone for 6 nights with some family members. I'll be back in time for a couple days of packing before my Canonical Retreat.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Thursday, April 23, 2015
One month from today...
...God willing, I will be face down on the floor of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston being ordained as a Priest of Jesus Christ for the Archdiocese of Boston.
What is left for me between now and then?
1) Wait for my Call to Order from Cardinal Sean.
2) Send out invitations once I receive that letter.
3) Complete 2 papers as Finals for courses.
4) Finish up Seminary on May 6th.
5) Vacation in Orlando with some family members.
6) Canonical retreat in Milton with my diocesan brothers.
7) Get my parish assignment the night before ordination
What is left for me between now and then?
1) Wait for my Call to Order from Cardinal Sean.
2) Send out invitations once I receive that letter.
3) Complete 2 papers as Finals for courses.
4) Finish up Seminary on May 6th.
5) Vacation in Orlando with some family members.
6) Canonical retreat in Milton with my diocesan brothers.
7) Get my parish assignment the night before ordination
Monday, April 13, 2015
The Final Stretch
We started classes again today after Easter break. This is the final stretch for the year for all of us and the final stretch, period, for some of us. May 6th will be the last day of classes. May 23rd will be, God willing, my ordination to priesthood.
The remaining workload does not look overwhelming, primarily because I worked hard before break to complete many of the papers that will be due. There will be finals, of course, even though they will not be during finals week for us. At the end of the evening on May 6th, we are free to leave. I will be leaving for a short vacation with the family at a certain resort in Orlando, but I will be back to Weston to pack up.
After vacation, a day or two to pack, then a canonical retreat with my diocesan brothers, dinner with the Cardinal to receive my assignment, then Ordination the next morning. I have 10 days to complete my preparations port ordination and start my assignment on June 2nd.
The remaining workload does not look overwhelming, primarily because I worked hard before break to complete many of the papers that will be due. There will be finals, of course, even though they will not be during finals week for us. At the end of the evening on May 6th, we are free to leave. I will be leaving for a short vacation with the family at a certain resort in Orlando, but I will be back to Weston to pack up.
After vacation, a day or two to pack, then a canonical retreat with my diocesan brothers, dinner with the Cardinal to receive my assignment, then Ordination the next morning. I have 10 days to complete my preparations port ordination and start my assignment on June 2nd.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Reality sets in
One of my classmates just stopped by and related a phone call he had just received. He was asked if he could be a confessor on a retreat at the end of June. Wow! At the end of June, he will be able to hear confessions...and so will I (God willing).
I had to look this up...(really, I did) As I write this, it is 68 days to priestly ordination. In a bit over two months, I will be ordained as a priest. 10 days later, I'll start my new life at a parish somewhere in the Archdiocese of Boston.
There is much to be completed in the next two months: with my family, with seminary and my weekend assignment, and with ordination preparation. Life will be changed and different. The most humorous aspect of all this is; when they call me Father, I don't have to correct them anymore.
I had to look this up...(really, I did) As I write this, it is 68 days to priestly ordination. In a bit over two months, I will be ordained as a priest. 10 days later, I'll start my new life at a parish somewhere in the Archdiocese of Boston.
There is much to be completed in the next two months: with my family, with seminary and my weekend assignment, and with ordination preparation. Life will be changed and different. The most humorous aspect of all this is; when they call me Father, I don't have to correct them anymore.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Sad news today.
Sad news today. My brother-in-law William VanOver died on Tuesday afternoon from a massive coronary event. He has been moving between the hospital and a rehab facility for the last ten weeks.
He joins his wife (and my sister) in God's hands. It is just over three months since she died. She was his entire life, may they rest together in God's peace.
I'm leaving for Maine this morning. I'll be there through the weekend and for Spring Break next week.
He joins his wife (and my sister) in God's hands. It is just over three months since she died. She was his entire life, may they rest together in God's peace.
I'm leaving for Maine this morning. I'll be there through the weekend and for Spring Break next week.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Mea Culpa...
It has been too long, my friends. It is not that there is no news, but the news has been discouraging and I did not want anyone to worry.
As of this moment, all is going fine. But it has been a heck of a first 5 weeks as a deacon.
That hacking cough you heard during the ordination was me. The illness I was fighting left me with a middle ear infection. This, in turn, spawned a vertigo attack, an ER visit and an overnight stay at the hospital. A week later, an aftershock occurred with another ER trip. Who knew there were aftershocks for vertigo attacks? A visit with the neurologist resulted in an MRI. The MRI showed the middle ear infection, antibiotics were prescribed, and the dizziness went away. Thank You Dr & God.
Then, the 48 hour bug going around the seminary decided to visit. Like many others, I got well and relapsed for another 48 hours 1 day later.
The net result is I have missed 2 out of 5 weekends at my parish. Now, both the faculty here and my pastoral supervisor are fine with this, but I need the practice as a deacon before I become a priest.
I have spoken to several priests about this rocky start to my diaconate. We all see the hand of the devil in this. Satan does not want another priest to be ordained. I pray for protection from the devil every day. Your prayers will help as well.
As I write this on Ash Wednesday, it is a few days over three months to priestly ordination. May God continue the good work in me that he has begun.
As of this moment, all is going fine. But it has been a heck of a first 5 weeks as a deacon.
That hacking cough you heard during the ordination was me. The illness I was fighting left me with a middle ear infection. This, in turn, spawned a vertigo attack, an ER visit and an overnight stay at the hospital. A week later, an aftershock occurred with another ER trip. Who knew there were aftershocks for vertigo attacks? A visit with the neurologist resulted in an MRI. The MRI showed the middle ear infection, antibiotics were prescribed, and the dizziness went away. Thank You Dr & God.
Then, the 48 hour bug going around the seminary decided to visit. Like many others, I got well and relapsed for another 48 hours 1 day later.
The net result is I have missed 2 out of 5 weekends at my parish. Now, both the faculty here and my pastoral supervisor are fine with this, but I need the practice as a deacon before I become a priest.
I have spoken to several priests about this rocky start to my diaconate. We all see the hand of the devil in this. Satan does not want another priest to be ordained. I pray for protection from the devil every day. Your prayers will help as well.
As I write this on Ash Wednesday, it is a few days over three months to priestly ordination. May God continue the good work in me that he has begun.
Monday, January 19, 2015
interesting times
Brother-in-law in hospital
Dad in hospital
Brother-in-law back in hospital
I go back to school
I get ordained as Deacon
I'm in hospital
I preside at my first Communion Service as Deacon
I serve as deacon and give my first homily at Abington
I serve as deacon and give my first homily at Whitman
Interesting 6 weeks
Dad in hospital
Brother-in-law back in hospital
I go back to school
I get ordained as Deacon
I'm in hospital
I preside at my first Communion Service as Deacon
I serve as deacon and give my first homily at Abington
I serve as deacon and give my first homily at Whitman
Interesting 6 weeks
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Saturday, January 10th
Ordination to Transitional Diaconate.
If you cannot make it to Boston on Saturday, you can always watch CatholicTV on your cable service or http://www.catholictv.com/watch-live at 10:00 A.M.
If you cannot make it to Boston on Saturday, you can always watch CatholicTV on your cable service or http://www.catholictv.com/watch-live at 10:00 A.M.
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