Boston Seminarian's Retreat 2012

I attended the Boston Seminarian's Retreat last week.  It was 3 days and two nights to reflect on our possible vocation and meet others from other seminaries.  It was a pleasant time with walks in the woods, views of Buzzard's Bay and time to talk with other like minded men.

Cardinal Sean's Blog has a picture of two of us from Blessed John Seminary listening to the Cardinal.  Scroll down about 3/4 of the way to see us.  

At the Ordination of Boston Priests

I served at the Ordination today.  

This should take you to the picture with me in it.  Yes, that is me in the back following the Cardinal.

My Summer Assignment - part 2

My summer assignment is at a busy parish.  There are myriad opportunities to get involved and I have had to say "no" to some because it is possible to be too busy here.   The seminary gives us a list of 30 or so activities that we might want to "try out" over the summer.  The goal is that over three summers, we would experience most, if not all, of the activities.  In the first week here, I checked off 15 of those activities.  As I said, it is a busy parish.

Today was the final Mass for the school as the academic year ends today.  I have been told that it gets a bit slower when the school is no longer in session.  I will see next week.

Next week also brings the Boston seminarian retreat (three days) and the ordination of six men as priests.  We have a representative from Blessed John getting ordained and he has asked me to serve at his ordination.  More about those events next time.

My Summer Assignment

I have started my eight week assignment at St. Agatha's.  It seems to be a very busy parish and school with two priests, a lot of folks on staff and many active parishioners.  So far, I've been meeting people and attending Masses and having a good start in that regard. 

More details as I take on new challenges here.

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.

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.

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.