Marriage Enrichment

Last weekend, we had our last Formation Weekend of the year before we take the Rite of Lector.  Once again this year, I hope to have my son Chris (who turned 19 yesterday) as the Bishop's server during the Rite.  It takes place June 9 at 11:30 at St Theresa Church in Henniker, NH.  Took some photos with our presenters last weekend to add to my 'clergy collection'  I have a new goal - to photograph all the presenters at our Formation Weekends over the next two years so that I have a photo record of our Formation after Ordination.

Kathy and I with Msgr Paul Bouchard

Pastor, Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Merrimack, NH

Kathy and I with Deacon Jim and Christine Patterson

Deacon Jim is assigned to Our Lady of Mercy Parish 

Christine is Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Mercy Parish

Christine joins us for many of our Formation Weekends.  Her experience as a Pastoral Associate and Deacon's wife has been a welcome addition to our weekends as we grow and further understand what it will be like once ordained and assigned to a parish.

Kathy was a Lector for our weekend liturgy.  She has never done it before.  She practiced quite a bit and the first time she practiced in front of me, I thought she was perfect.  Good pace and good pronunciation.  She was really REALLY nervous.  As was I my first time, but now I am very comfortable.  In fact I am Lector at St Mark the Evangelist this weekend.  Kathy is not comfortable with public speaking.  I tried to tell her this was public READING and a bit easier, but it did not calm her down.  She did terrific.

We had our third class in Moral Theology.  I wish this class continued for a while - it has been the most enlightening class so far, mostly because of our instructor, Prof Dan Daly from St Anselm's Theology Department.

Tonight I have Nocturnal Adoration at Midnight, then up at 6 AM for Men of St Joseph with my brothers in Litchfield at St Francis.

Moral Theology

Just started our last class sessions of the year.  Moral Theology looks like it could be the best class so far.  A very knowledgeable professor, with a doctorate in from BC.  Three hours flew by - just defining topics!  Looking forward to Thursday class.  We're going to cover some controversial topics and work through how the Catholic Church develops its position on these items.  If you think it's just to be the opposite of what people want, you would be mistaken!

Is it really April 22?

Has 2/3 of a month really passed?  I must say, I haven't been too interested in posting these last few weeks.  I have been focused for the last two weeks on my paper for Christology.  It is 7-10 pages in length on a Christological theology topic of our choice.  I chose to use St Paul's Letter to the Philippians as my topic.  I just finished it - at least I have 8 pages complete.  All that is left is a proofread session. I know there are a few areas I need to work, but the majority of it is complete, including the bibliography.  I tried to write a page per night this week and entered today with 4.5 pages written.  So I have spent the afternoon finishing it.  I'll proofread tonight and tomorrow and submit tomorrow night.  We start our last class of the year on Tuesday - Moral Theology.  It will take us through all of May and on June 9, at 11:30 AM we will collectively take the Rite of Lector, progressing through our second year of formation.

It will be a very busy June - A Formation Weekend Jun 8-10.  Then I have to cook and give a short talk at our monthly Men of St Joseph Meeting on June 16.  Then we'll go see Charlie Farren and Farrenheit on Saturday night June 16.  June 17 we'll head to Montreal for the week.  Getting back on Friday that week, the following Monday, my boss will be in town for the week, so I'll need to set up a full slate of meetings for that.  After all that activity, we'll be on vacation the first week of July followed by our annual two week trip to the beach in early August.

I think there may be a few other concerts in there - Keiko Matsui, Van Halen (again), Neil Diamond and perhaps a few others.

Formation Weekend coming up this weekend, April 28/29 so we'll be away.  When will I write again?  April?  May...June???  July!

Finally...more VH pics

Another week goes by

I think I have found out what it is like to have too much on your plate.  Thankfully, it is winding down, but I became aware of it this week.

Our class in Christology / Trinity has one meeting left, a make up class on April 10.  This class has been quite a challenge for me.  I just don't think like a Theologian.  So I fumble through the readings and wait until class to hear what the author was really trying to say.  I really like our instructor, but he's a Theologian and I am an engineer.  In choosing my paper topic, which I am now much more relaxed about, I commented about this to our instructor.  He wrote back a good email explaining he'd like to understand my thinking as an engineer - that he really has no aptitude for numbers.  It would be a good exchange if we ever get the chance.

I'm also taking a scripture study course on Mondays on the Passion Narratives.  One week left - I really enjoy it, but between the reading and homework for that, the reading for class and work, it is too much.  We also finish up cooking dinners at the parish during Lent this evening so that is also behind us.  Then a busy Holy Week and we can enjoy the Easter season.

We have a Formation Weekend coming at the end of April and one more class before our Rite of Lector on Jun 9.  Another year of Formation is nearing a close.  This year has been great and has made me start to consider pursuing a Master's Degree in Scripture.  I've started to look at curricula and am thinking I may start something next summer.

Follow me...

I seem to have a fair amount of site hits.  Please, if you are checking in, hit "Follow Me" so I can see that this journaling is not just for me.

Some updates

OK so I posted the quick Van Halen photo post.  Some of the other happenings of the last month:

• Traveled to NY/NJ with the family for business
• Traveled to Los Angeles for a trade show
• Van Halen shows: 2x!
• Laurel & Hardy Tent meeting
• Purchased and installed a new Bullfrog Spa
• Enjoyed the new Spa (nightly, under the constellations)
• Formation Weekend on Vatican II
• Began a new class in Christology (Theology)
• Led the prayer portion of Men of St Joseph and shared a short reflection on the reading (a practice in homiletics for me)

Will try to overload on posts for the next week to bring everything up to speed.

Sorry to my 'fans' ... and Van Halen!

Been a very busy month and still busy with class starting up again.  Highlight of the last week was seeing Van Halen twice.  I forgot how much I like that band, and with David Lee Roth back, it's evident how much better they are with him.  Will post more in the coming days, but for now, here's a quick shot of Eddie and David from my seat in Manchester Tuesday night.  More to come, but I purchased the ticket at 3 PM Tuesday and 4 hours later was enjoying show #2 in two days.  Go out and buy "A Different Kind of Truth" - it's fantastic!

Ordinary time

Well, after completing the Formation Weekend, I came home and returned to the real world.  This week we finish our class in the Prophets.  This has been a good class for me as it allowed me to focus on individual stories from the bible that were very familiar.  But, since we were focused, the characters, their backgrounds and motivations were much clearer than when just reading the stories.  I said to many classmates that you have to work to get something out of online classes.  Unlike a regular class where you may learn things just by showing up, that doesn't happen in an online class in my opinion.  So for me, this class in the Prophets was good.  It was certainly not comprehensive because we glossed over Isaiah, but I did pick up some good insights.

Went to see Star Wars Episode I last night.  My first 3-D movie.  Not bad, there are some scenes I really like in that movie, being a huge Star Wars fan.  It was my first movie in probably 5+ years.  I'll go see #2 & 3 once.  When the original trilogy gets released later this year, you'll probably find me in the theater alone in the afternoon watching it multiple times.

Saturday, it's Men of St Joseph time.  My favorite new ministry, except it's probably not new any more.  Well, this wee will be new.  I am leading the prayer service for the men and am planning to use the time to do a short reflection on the reading from the Divine Office.  Sort of a mini-Homily.  More practice and experience, at the expense of these poor men.  I hope I am OK and don't bore them to tears.  The intent is to draw more men in, so I hope my reflection helps that.  Next month it is our annual gathering at the Cathedral and Bishop Libasci is saying the mass and the keynote speaker.

Snow tonight!  We'll see if we really get any.  Last Saturday's storm was a bust, and that's fine with me.  This may be the best winter ever.  Certainly better than last year when we got snow every Wednesday after Mom passed.  Seemed I was cleaning two driveways every week.

It's February

Eleven days in and today is my first February post.  I'm away at a Formation Weekend in Contoocook, NH on Vatican II.  K is not feeling well, so she will break the tradition and head home, so I'll be here all alone...with my 21 brothers and their spouses.  If you are going to be 'alone' there is no better group to be alone with.

I'll hope to catch a ride with someone, otherwise, it's a long walk home.

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday, so it was tough to be without her another year.  Being an orphan after 45 years is difficult.