Merry Christmas

December 23, 2011

It has been several weeks since my last update and so much has happened.  I have finished my first full semester and I survived!  In the past couple of weeks I had finals in Church History, Old Testament, Patristics, Philosophy and Speech.  Also completed several papers.  In the middle of that, I received the ministry of Acolyte, which is the first formal step toward priesthood.  It was extremely humbling when the Bishop handed me the vessels with which I will serve the people of God (see Photo.)

After that, home to Texas to spend time with family and friends.  Today I had dinner with Tina and her family, and Diana and her boyfriend, Joey.  Tomorrow, I will be serving at three masses at St. Jude’s in Allen, then back to Tina’s for Christmas.  Next week I will head to Kansas to spend a little time with Lisa’s family. 

Today I was thinking about how busy this Christmas season has been so far.  I reflected on what that first Christmas must have been like.  Mary, nine months pregnant, travels with Joseph 90 miles on a donkey.  They are headed to Nazareth, along with lots of other people, to participate in the census.  Nazareth must have been crowded and busy, as there was no place left to stay.  So much for “Silent Night”, or “O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie.” It seems like that first Christmas may have been busy as well.  Yet in the midst of all that busy-ness, came an event which changed us forever. 

I know that it is hard to slow down, especially at this time of year.  My prayer for each of you is that no matter how busy you are, you do not miss the wonder and awe of what happened in another busy city 2,000 years ago. 

2 Lessons

November 11, 2011

This has been a very spirit-filled week.  God has touched me deeply in two different experiences this week.  I know that I am supposed to learn lessons from these experiences, so please bear with me while I try to sort them out.

1.  Earlier this week, my philosophy professor, a Jesuit Priest, told me to write a psalm.  Since we have been studying Plato and Aristotle, this seemed totally out of place.  When asked for more guidance, he said that it would just come to us.  He was right.  I cannot remember the last time (if ever) that I sat down, with no agenda, no need, no petition, and wrote a heartfelt message “to God” instead of “about God.”  The words just flowed onto the page, and while I am no poet, I think God may be pleased with the outcome. (I hope the professor is as well.)  I guess the lesson here is that maybe I should check in with Him a little more often just to say, “Hi…I’m doing fine…thanks for being there.” 

2.  Yesterday, a fellow seminarian and I took a ride along the coast of Maine.  Along the way, we stopped at Old Orchard Beach, a place where our family used to go every summer when I was a kid.  Driving past the cottage that used to belong to my Godparents, I noticed woman sitting in the window of a neighboring cottage.  It brought back memories of the people who used to live there and would treat my sister and me to cookies or ice cream.  I kept driving, but something made me turn around and go knock on her door.  I could see through the window as she slowly got up from her chair and used her walker to make her way to the door.  When the door opened, I asked her if her name was Mary.  I told her my name and her face lit up.  I had not seen her since sometime in the early 1960’s…nearly 50 years ago.  We talked for quite some time about the fun we used to have there, and what had happened to this person and that person.  So what is the lesson here?  I think of all the things I have done since then, all the places I have gone, all the people I have met, all the things that made me who I have become.  Sometimes I think we lose sight of the little kid we once were.  We bury them in all we do and all we want to become as adults.  Thanks Mary, for taking me back 50 years and showing me that kid.

School is still going well.  Headed home for Thanksgiving eleven days! 

In Christ,

Russ

Two Years

October 28, 2011

Today is the second anniversary of Vickie’s passing.  So much is happened in two years that I can barely comprehend the fullness of it.  I see Vickie’s hand, and of course the hand of God, in everything that has transpired since her death. 

In the past two years, I have sold my house, retired from my career, and given away most of my possessions. I have celebrated the birth of another grandson and my 60^th birthday.  I have helped coach a little league team and a men’s spiritual retreat.  I have been called to go back to school and prepare for a new vocation.  With the support of my family, my community at St. Jude’s in Allen and my community at The Brothers and Sisters of Charity, I have moved to Massachusetts to prepare to serve God’s people as a priest.  Two years.

I spent much time today reflecting on my marriage to Vickie, and how blessed I was to have spent nearly 20 years together.  We had some trials, but many more joys.  Now it might seem strange that one’s marriage experience would bring them to the Priesthood, but it was experiencing God’s love in that sacrament that brought me closer to Him.  In the past couple of days, I have spent a lot of time visiting with friends and family, both on the phone and in person. Tonight, close friends from St. Jude’s called from the columbarium where Vickie’s ashes are interred and we prayed a Rosary together over the phone.  And the love continues.  I am so blessed to have the support of many of you to lift me through the trials.

Here are just a few other notes to let you know what is going on. I will wrap up mid-term exams on Monday, then will start looking forward to Thanksgiving, when I can spend a few days at home catching up with everyone.  We had our first snow of the season here last night and another storm is due this weekend.  Tonight is game 7 of the World Series.  I am the cheering section for the Rangers, while the Cardinals are being cheered on by one of my classmates, Brother Aiden, a Benedictine Monk from St. Louis.  Its hard to get too riled up when you are cheering against a Monk!!! He is such a nice guy, but tonight he is going down J.  Go Rangers.

Thanks for your continued prayers.

In Christ,

Russ

A Balancing Act

It has been a busy few weeks here at Blessed John XXIII.  Last Wednesday, we hosted a ”Lawn Party” fund raiser for the seminary.  There were about 300 guests in the large tent which was set up in our courtyard.  Cardinal O’Malley was the guest speaker.  The food and entertainment were great, and the best part was that we raised about $250,000 toward the operating expenses of the seminary. 

This past Sunday was “Respect Life Sunday.”  Some of us joined the thousands of people who gather at Boston Common for a rally and march through downtown Boston.  While the focus has always been on abortion, this year’s rally had a new twist.  In addition to the abortion issue, Massachusetts voters are considering legalizing assisted suicide on the upcoming November ballot.  The march was peaceful and very reverent, however there were a few groups of pro-choice advocates shouting at us along the route. 

It was amazing to think that my friends at St. Jude’s in Allen were participating in the same event at the same time, halfway across the country. 

Since I came here to study and be formed, let me give you an update on those activities as well.  My first in-class presentation went well.  One of my classmates and I gave a 45 minute presentation on Tertullian and the early North African church.  That should make interesting conversation at a party sometime, or perhaps help me if I ever end up on Jeopardy!  Seriously, I am learning so much about the roots of the faith which I had really not questioned all that much.  There is an incredible amount of reading, but all classes are very interesting.  Our instructors are world class theologians.

On the spiritual side, I am starting to get a little more balance in my life.  I was struggling with finding time during the day to reflect and pray.  It seemed that once the rigorous class schedule started, there was no time left for me.  I have started getting up earlier to get my prayer time in first, instead of trying to just fit it in someplace.  Putting first things first has made a big difference, and sleep is over-rated anyway.  It is amazing how much more energy one has when things are in balance, sort of like riding a bike.

Speaking of riding a bike, a few of us have been carving out some time to explore some of the bike trails around the Boston area.  There are several rail-to-trail paths that are beautiful.  I try to get outside to exercise at least an hour a day as part of the balance thing.  Thursdays, our day off, we head out for a longer ride.  Tomorrow we are riding a trail along the Nashua River from Ayer MA into New Hampshire. 

Next week, our entire class will be headed to Miramar Retreat House in Duxbury, MA, for a five-day silent retreat…no schoolwork allowed.  The object of the retreat is to get away from our studies and just listen.  More balance.  Everyone is looking forward to that.  When we get back, we will have a week to get ready for mid-term exams, but I will worry about those after the retreat.

Guess that is all for now, but I wanted everyone to know that I am well.  I am missing the girls, grandkids, and my Texas friends, but I will be back there for a visit before too long.  Don’t stop praying for me as I pray for you each day.

In Christ,

Russ

Late Arrival at the Vineyard

Some of you have reminded me that it is time for a seminary update, so here goes.  Life here is good.  It is simple, yet very demanding at the same time.  It is simple in that follow a fairly regimented schedule which includes morning prayer, class, Mass, study time and evening prayer.  Of course meals are interspersed at the appropriate times.  It is demanding in that we get plenty of homework, including reading, papers, exams, presentations, etc.  It is easy to get wrapped up in the academic portion of the formation program, since that seems the most visible right now, but there are four pillars of priestly formation:  Human, Spiritual, Pastoral, and Academic.  The important thing is to achieve a sense of balance between these four pillars.  I am still working on that.

I mentioned before about the diversity of the other men here.  We are from incredibly different backgrounds but are bound together by a common goal.  We are not only growing closer as friends, but the sense of brotherhood is quite obvious, even to the casual visitor.  Each class had election of officers this week.  I am the president of the class of 2015.  I’m not really sure how that happened, except that the nominations and elections were over quite quickly.  Anyway, I am honored that I get to represent our class in weekly meetings with the Rector and faculty for the next year. 

Andrew, one of my best friends from St. Jude’s in Allen, came to visit on Friday.  I gave him a tour and we spent the evening together over a great dinner at a local seafood restaurant.  It was really good to see someone from home.  Even though I grew up here in New England, I do miss Texas, especially my friends and family there.  I have been communicating with some family on Skype, and it is great fun visiting with grandkids via video calls.  The other night I tucked Paige into bed electronically.  I’m not sure which of us enjoyed that more.

Today’s Gospel reading was from Matthew, Chapter 20.  It was the parable about the workers in the vineyard.  This reading has special meaning to the men studying here, as most of us were called to this vocation later in life than is typical.  In the parable, the workers who arrived late in the day to begin their work received the same wage as those who arrived early.  What an incredible comfort to know that the Lord values each of us the same, no matter when we get started. 

I took this picture of our chapel the other night during adoration.  I thought you would enjoy seeing where we worship.  I will follow up with more pictures in future installments, but for now I will close.

I know that I am in your prayers.  Please know that you are in mine as well.

In Christ,

Russ

First Week at Seminary

My first week at Blessed John XXIII National Seminary has been an adventure.  We spent the first five days in orientation, getting to know the routines, schedules, house rules and what amenities are available in the immediate area.  We also spent time getting to know each other.  There are fifteen men in my class from all over the country.  They are from all walks of life, including chemists, journalists, politicians, retired military and several with business backgrounds.  Several are widowers like myself.  The seminary newsletter with more detailed biographies will be published in the next few weeks.  I will provide a link to that when it is available. 

My studies for this semester include Introduction to Philosophy, Old Testament, Patristic Theology, Church History, Spiritual Formation and Speech.  I was worried about the reading load for these classes, but I am finding that the subjects are really interesting and I am already learning much about the roots of my faith, that I had largely taken for granted until now. 

The prayer life here is also enriching.  Most mornings, we pray Morning Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours) together as a community.  Evening Prayer is prayed together three days per week, and on our own or in small groups the other days.  Prayers for the other Hours are usually prayed on our own.  Of course, there is Mass every day, either in conjunction with Morning Prayer or at Noon.  Sunday Mass is held at 9:30 a.m. and members of the local community often join us.  The chapel is just down the hall from my room.  There is a nice pipe organ there and the sound of 80 or more male voices singing in unison is awesome. 

The food here is great!  That might not be a good thing for me.  Home-made apple crisp and strawberry shortcake sometimes feel like a contradiction to “Lead us not into temptation.”  I am making an effort to exercise, and so far, I have been walking about five miles per day on the country roads around the seminary.  This is a beautiful place to walk or bike.  I will have to figure out another regimen when the snow comes. 

My room is about 10 x 12 feet.  It has a built-in desk with shelves and a dresser, a small closet and storage under the bed.  I have a glider-rocker with footstool, some shelves and a dorm fridge.  I thought this arrangement would be a bit claustrophobic, but strangely enough, the size of the room seems quite comfortable.  It is actually nice not to have so many distractions which might keep me from my studies.  I do have pictures and a few keepsakes from home and as a reminder of where I am from, there is a Texas flag. 

That is about it for this writing, but I will try to keep you posted on a regular basis.  Many of you have had a significant impact on my decision to pursue this vocation and I know that you are praying for me.  Please know that I pray for you daily.

Your brother in Christ,

Russ