Making progress

End of April approaching.  Somehow I got my paper done and in on time.  I was actually pleased with the result.

I've made progress on my psychology paperwork and read through the Pope John Paul II encyclical on Moral Theology.  I really like this class and this encyclical has cleared up the basics of the Church's teaching on Moral issues.  At first review, we may not always like or agree with the Church's position on certain issues.  I find this usually to be because we selfishly want to hear only what we want to hear.  Every issue I have ever researched on Church teaching, I have always found that the Church has the right position, it just me be hard to accept because it's not what we want to hear, but we know it's right.  It's like what I tell my children - you always know the right thing to do because it is the HARD thing to do and we don't really want to face those hard decisions and actions.

Thought I'd also post a photo of the my favorite hero of the Boston Marathon bombings.

April

Waiting to confirm my parish assignment.  That anxiety has passed (assuming confirmation) and it looks like I'll have a parish where I can get good experience and exposure to outreach to the poor.

I was honored to present to the Women of Mary at St Patrick Parish in Pelham, NH a few weeks ago.  Another good experience and a very faithful group of women.

April has been a busy and stressful month.  I finished a class in the Letters of St Paul with Prof Dennis Sweetland.  He is one of my favorite teachers ever.  Also attended an open house at Saint Anselm College for Mary.  We''ll be confirming her admission there at the end of the month.  We begin a new class tomorrow night.  It is Moral Theology II taught by Msgr Anthony Frontiero, the Rector of St Joseph Cathedral in Manchester, NH.  I am finishing my paper for my last class, due tomorrow.  A 10 pager is due for my next class on May 8 and also on May 8 my psychological eval paperwork is due.  However, with the trauma in Boston this past week, not to mention Texas and the earthquake in China, my stress is trivial in comparison.

May will be a bit less stressful, but then comes June and a trip to Seattle WA and then quickly followed by the Rite of Acolyte and full immersion in a parish internship in preparation for Ordination.

Also, saw Bruce Hornsby last week.  Upcoming is Paul McCartney (tickets in the 6th row, center!) and Billy Idol in June.

Busy times!

Easter 2013

The family on Easter

Class begins + Mary's College Plans!

Well, the big news is that Mary (daughter) has been accepted to St Anselm College in the fall.  Great and exciting news.  However, now the pressure of paying for college is setting in.  In order to see what the college offers for financial aid, I have to complete our taxes by next Friday and complete the 2012 part of the FAFSA.  I'll probably need to take a day out of work to complete the taxes as this is a priority.

Add to this that we return to class tomorrow night.  We begin the Letters of St Paul with Prof Dennis Sweetland and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of this class.  Dr Sweetland was a fantastic instructor during my time in Called to Servant Leadership, the curriculum in the Diocese to form lay leaders within our parishes.  This class will be a challenge, but I expect to thoroughly enjoy Dr Sweetland's style, his knowledge and the challenge of a research paper.  Working today on a 5+ page preparatory paper on how we approach scripture individually.

Heading to Anaheim CA in a week for a trade show, so I'll miss two classes, but I hope to hook up with Dr Sweetland to do a bit of make up and pick his brain.

Lent - The halfway point

Well we are halfway through Lent.  This has been one of the best Lents I have experienced.  Lenten dinners at the parish are well attended, Stations of the Cross are also reasonably well attended, since we haven't had them at the parish for the last two years.  We are also having a class called Living the Eucharist on Friday nights and then had Nocturnal Adoration this week.  Saturday AM was Men of St Joseph in Litchfield.  All in all a full weekend at the parish.  Great activity, great ministries with our parishioners.

Easter will be here before we know it.  That will be one FULL week.  Planning to go to all three services of the Triduum, including the Easter Vigil.  I may just go and not perform any minsterial function during teh Vigil to just soak it all in

Parish assignments are coming this summer and in 1 short week, we start a class in the Letters of St. Paul.  Looks to be one of our most challenging classes to date with a great instructor so it also might be the most informative.  Looking forward to the challenge!

The Who with Vintage Trouble February 24, 2013

First a few of the opening band Vintage Trouble.  They were very good!

Now for Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend 

Drummer is Ringo Starr's son

The other guitar player is Pete Townshend's brother Simon

Sixpence None The Richer

Wow, forgot we saw Sixpence None the Richer on Saturday, February 2, 2013.  Here are some pictures.