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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Just over three weeks left

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.