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.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
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.
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.
...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.
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)
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.
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.
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...
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...
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