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Archive for December, 2008

break begins back HOME

December 13, 2008 Leave a comment

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Advent is here

December 6, 2008 Leave a comment

081206_sjvcs-room-lightsWith the busyness of writing term papers and studying for this exam week coming up, it’s easy to forget Advent is here and preparing myself for Christmas.  Also being diligent in keep up with my seminary goals for this semester … prayer … study … community … service.

It’s nice to see “sacramentals” to remind us of something (and Someone) greater than the immediate here and now busyness.  These Christmas lights in a brother seminarian’s room was nice to see today.

Tomorrow is my personal semester evaluation with Rector one-on-one.  — I hope Ligo Orante is praying for me extra hard today 🙂  God bless & be holy!

Liga Orante

December 6, 2008 Leave a comment

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MASS — Fr Manny Alvarez, our Miami Vocations Director, celebrated Mass with a Spanish diocesen ministry called “Liga Orante,” who prays for vocations everyday.  We only get to see them a couple times a year, but it’s always a joy to see our spiritual support team face to face.  — Thank you and God bless!

 

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Christmas Mass + dinner

December 5, 2008 1 comment

081205_sjvcs-christmas-massCELEBRATION — tonight was our Christmas Mass & dinner with faculty and staff. 
Great time with great people! 
The ham was great, too.
And the desserts were good.
And some of the centerpieces caught fire.
And there was wine.
Did I mention the ham was great?
I sat with “Sammy Davis Jr.”
Great time with great people!

[homily started with “Picture comparison” magazine game]

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graduate graces

December 4, 2008 Leave a comment

081204_pillsbury-cookiesNIGHT PRAYER — our seminary rector asked each class to have their own Night Prayer this week with group reflection on the graces that we’ve been blessed with. Tonight was the graduating class (Seniors + Pre-Theology year 2) in the McCarthy House Chapel. It wasn’t only great to express thanksgiving for graces I’ve noticed (especially in my 2nd year of formation), but to hear the graces that others have noticed helps me to recognize other graces that I’ve also received, but unable to “name” or appreciate. It was yet another grace-filled event in seminary.

Thank you, God bless you, and be holy!

DOTS — “Evangelicals” club @ World Religion class … graces of sacraments @ Pre-Theology seminary … gato y abuela @ dinner … freshly baked cookies afternoon + evening

Equadorian food night

December 2, 2008 Leave a comment

081202_sjvcs-equadorian-food-night-3CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — tonight was food from Equador.  Good eatin’

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Syro-Malabar Qurbana Mass

December 2, 2008 Leave a comment

081202_sjvcs-mass-syro-malabar-qurbana-3MASS — in our appreciation of other Catholic Rites, today we celebrated Qurbana (Mass) in the tradition of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, which our own Fr Joseph was ordained in.  The servers have more reading parts, the priest face away from the people during consecration, we stand through most of Mass, and shaking hands is different (two hands together, like prayer, with a bow).  A great experience in appreciation of our diverse yet universal Catholic Church.

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Jeopardy + Charades @ CCD

December 1, 2008 2 comments

081201_ccd-charades-1CCD — tonight, in 10th grade Confirmation class, we played Jeopardy and Charades to review for their mid-term test before Christmas break.  Lots of fun and lots of review!

Here are some of the “answers” … what are the “questions”?

catagory: FIRST DAY FAITH QUIZ

1. THE NAME OF THE FIRST POPE
2. THE STORY OF CREATION IS IN THIS BIBLE BOOK
3. MARY’S COUSIN
4. THE NAMES OF ALL THE GOSPEL BOOKS
5. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAVED ON THE ARK
6. THIS APOSTLE WAS A TAX COLLECTOR
7. THE MEANING OF “CATHOLIC”
8. THE NAME OF ABRAHAM’S SON
9. ON THIS DAY, WE CELEBRATE THE SCURGING, CRUCIFIXION & DEATH OF JESUS
10. THESE ARE THE 2 TYPES OF SINS

category: CHAPTER 1 (of our text book)

1. GOD REVEALING HIMSELF TO US
2. COMMUNICATING WITH GOD
3. HEBREWS 11:1 SAYS IT IS “BEING SURE OF WHAT YOU HOPE FOR AND CERTAIN OF WHAT YOU DO NOT SEE”
4. THE PART OF THE BIBLE THAT FOCUSES ON THE FAITH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD & THE ISRAELITES
5. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE SPECIAL GUIDANCE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE HUMAN AUTHORS OF THE BIBLE

category: PHONE CALLS (prayer)

1. GUESTURE MADE BY CATHOLICS AT THE BEGINNING & END OF PRAYERS
2. THE MEANING OF THE WORD ” AMEN ”
3. THE NUMBER OF DECADES (10) ON A ROSARY
4. IN THE LORD’S PRAYER, THE MEANING OF “HALLOWED”
5. THE NAME OF THIS PRAYER STYLE COMES FROM A LATIN WORD MEANING “CROWN OF ROSES”

category: FAMOUS CATHOLICS

1. THE CURRENT POPE
2. THE ONLY CATHOLIC U.S. PRESIDENT
3. WRITER OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS BOOK SERIES
4. THE VOICE OF “THE GOVERNATOR”, AN H1, FROM THE ANIMATED MOVIE “CARS” (2006)
5. RAPPER, MODEL, & ACTOR IN “THE ITALIAN JOB”

category: PHONE (prayer) TYPES

1. GRATITUDE FOR WHAT HE DOES
2. THE CREATED BEFORE THE CREATOR, USUALLY IN FRONT OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
3. ASKING GOD FOR MYSELF
4. GLORIFYING GOD FOR WHO HE IS
5. TUNING INTO GOD

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Qurbana practice

December 1, 2008 Leave a comment

081201_sjvcs-mass-practice-syro-malabar-qurbana-2WORLD RELIGION — tomorrow we’re celebrating Mass in the Syro-Malabar tradition that Fr Joseph was ordained in.  In order for all of us to better appreciate the rite, our World Religion class practiced with him to help the rest of the seminary house to be ready tomorrow.  — It’d be different, but it’s exciting!