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Ultra Music Festival (day 1)
I drove over to Bicentennial Park (next to Bayside) for day 1 of the electronic Ultra Music Festival after dinner about 6:30pm, but the highway exit was backup up and parking was crazy, so I drove around South Beach instead. Some other guys were interested, but it is expensive tonight ($70) and a seminarian budget is pretty sensitive. The main DJs I’d like to see are spinnin’ tommorow anyway. It’s been a couple years since I’ve been and I need to take advantage of living in Miami while here at SJVCS. I’ll post some descent YouTube video as they get posted over the next few days.
[wiki info:] Ultra Music Festival is an outdoor electronic music event held annually in Miami, Florida during the Winter Music Conference which occurs annually during the month of March. It is a 2-day event that takes place across 12 different stages featuring over 200 artists, DJs, producers and promoters. This year, it’ll celebrate it’s 10th anniversary taking place on Friday, March 28th and Saturday March 29th, 2008 in downtown Miami. The artist line up for the event is as follows:
FRIDAY (today) – PHASE ONE: Tiesto, Carl Cox, Justice, Rabbit in the Moon, Danny Tenaglia, Richie Hawtin, Steve Lawler, BT, Josh Wink, James Zabiela, M.A.N.D.Y., Erol Alkan, Boys Noize, Dirty South, Deadmau5, Jackal & Hyde, Monk, Kevens and Audiofly.
Ultra Music Festival 2008 Commercial
Day #1 compilation @ Ultra Music Festival 2008
Break Dancers @ Ultra Fest 2008
Danny Tenaglia @ Ultra Fest 2008
More clips coming.
back from Easter BREAK
I took last week’s Holy Week BREAK a bit too literally, so I’ll be back-dating some posts, especially pictures from services at St Mary’s Cathedral that all of us Miami seminarians served at. — a blessed experience indeed.
We were due in today by 9pm. 10pm NIGHT PRAYER was very reflective on the last 3 (busy) weeks by (rector) Fr Michael. [3 tracks, 1h]
+ JP’s back!
(video) “When God Ran” by Phillips Craig & Dean
On our first day of Holy Week break, our rector, Fr Michael, sent an email with a You Tube video link. It features clips from The Passion of the Christ movie to the Phillips Craig & Dean song “When God Ran.” — a powerfully good focus for reflection for entering Holy Week.
“Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!
“Because of this, God highly exalted him and bestowed upon him the name above every other name, so that at Jesus’ name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!” — Philippians2:6-11
Polish food night @ home
While on mid-term break, tonight was a great Polish dinner with golombki (stuffed cabbage).
carnival clean-up
I helped with clean-up efforts to “take down” my parish carnival booths at St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL. With only about a dozen people, it took all day and there’s still more to do. The occassional rain didn’t help either. Anyway, great work … I’ll feel it all week … came home a lobster. — It’s nice to be working with the same workers that I did back in 8th grade (for service hours), but that was 15 years ago … where’s some fresh blood.
Parish Carnival
On my first real day of mid-term break, I spent some time at my parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL. This weekend we’re having our annual Mardi-Gras themed Carnival (our biggest fundraiser). These pictures were actually taken Sunday night (when it rained), but most of the weekend had good weather and a good turn out.
Winter Jam Christian concert
CONCERT — the WINTER JAM 2008 Christian concert tonight at the University of Miami Convocation Center. It featured MercyMe (praise & worship), BarlowGirl (rock), Skillet (hard rock), and newer groups like NewSong (praise & worship), Group 1 Crew (hip-hop) and Mandisa (vocalist). I met up with the youth group of my home parish who got a bus full of kids.
After Group 1 Crew (hip hop good enough for me to buy their CD). An extreme BMX Skate Team did some stunts (for Jesus, I guess) followed by Mandisa (from American Idol). Then came NewSong, Skillet, BarlowGirl and finally MercyMe.
In between acts were speakers (like Tony Nolan), an altercall, and financial pleas for poverty and supporting more of these events. Hooking people with a $10 ticket price, making the concert into a “ministry,” then suggesting to write a check for $100 or $1000+ (if you’ve been “blessed”) to a crowd 90% children and then praying to respond to what God really wants you to do. We should be encouraging our sacrificial financial gifts to go to our accountable local churches for self-less causes, not independent “ministry” companies that entertain. — shameless, but good performances
Lester’s + Legend + seminary return
DOTS — Lester’s Diner — I Am Legend [pf] — Visitation Parish pickup [Md] — COLD night — return to St John Vianney College Seminary (for 2nd semester) — 10pm Compline [Night prayer]
prosperity gospel = pyramid scheme
FoxNews reports that there is a senate investigation targeting six ministries promoting the “Gospel of wealth” to innocent victims. — Finally somebody is calling their bluff … but nothing will be done about it.
Prosperity theology is commonly a part of televangelist, charismatic, and Pentecostal churches, that highlights the idea that God wants Christians to be “abundantly” successful in every way, including financially. It’s loosely based on Deuteronomy 8:18, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.” In a nutshell, it suggests that a God who loves you does not want you to be broke. Some of the evangelists supporting prosperity theology include Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Nasir Saddiki, Robert Tilton, T.D. Jakes, Paul Crouch, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Jesse Duplantis, Juanita Bynum, Eddie Long, Brian Houston, Paula White and Peter Popoff, and internet evangelist Chris Mentillo. Pat Robertson calls this theory the “Law of Reciprocity” on his show, The 700 Club[2].
Critics, including CATHOLICS, claim that the doctrine is used by its proponents to become wealthy at the expense of persons who give or that the doctrine’s focus on material wealth is misguided. In my view, I sounds like a glorified “Pyramid Scheme.” If our goverment is starting to look into this, why stop there Senators? Wall Street does this on a daily basis. Vegas and all the lotteries that are under government control do the same thing, promise the moon to lure a victim’s coin. — That’s why nothing will be done.
This got me looking for the Vatican’s guide to tithing our 10%, but I haven’t found anything official. Anybody know what the Catholic Church says about tithing? — Kermit?
Christmas Day
I served with cross at the 10am Christmas Day Mass at my home parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church with my Pastor Father Brendan Dalton and Deacon Lou.
Relaxed with family with great food and some movies (Ratatouille, The Kingdom, The Golden Compass)
X-Mas Midnight Mass
Did some last minute Christmas shopping. Served 6pm Christmas Vigil Mass with Msgr Strano & Deacon Lou at my home parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL. At 11pm, there was a Christmas Program combining a history of Christmas tradition from around the world with the choir’s carols. I had a short reading part from Genesis (God kicking Adam & Eve out of the Garden of Eden). Then Midnight Mass. The procession began with our “Army of Acoloytes” (high school alter servers). I carried in the holy water to bless the nativity scene on the alter. A beautiful service. After Mass, I got a great picture with my family and our Pastor Father Dalton.
The Subtle Knife
With all this talk about how the new movie The Golden Compass is an “atheist” Chronicles of Narnia, I listened to the second book in Philip Pullman‘s literary trilogy His Dark Materials series, The Subtle Knife. — I need to finish the whole series before making any judgement (so far, it doesn’t look good)
FLL pickup
Picked up my sister from the airport.
DOTS — Fracture & Children of Men [project]
home worklist
In order to maintain the “seminary schedule” I’ve grown accustomed to over the past few month, I was strongly encouraged (by Mom) to do a “home worklist.” — I thought “these hands were made for chalices, not calluses”
DOTS — The Simpson’s Movie [PsYcH] — gum bubble
“Spider-Pig, Spider-Pig, does whatever a Spider-Pig does … Look out! Here comes the Spider-Pig!”
Family Day + StB
MIAMI FAMILY DAY — today, Archbishop Favalora hosts all the Miami seminarian & their families for a Mass & luncheon. We started the morning with a seminarian group picture in our black suits (for a vocation poster) at ~9:45am. I served as “cross bearer” for the 11am Mass —by the grace of God, I didn’t fall over with that heavy 2-piece cross. The Archbishop have a great sermon including family support and after Mass gave all the servers a “ring blessing.” After Mass, we had a great lunch.
HOME PARISH — later in the afternoon, at my home parish St Bernadette (in Hollywood, FL), I joined the RCIT class for their Christmas party and served with incense with Mgsr Strano.
MOVIE — The Nanny Diaries with Wendy’s & canolli.
X-Mas break begins
Morning Mass (Fr Michael) — start 2 week Christmas break — Visitation Parish — caroling copies — decorate home tree
StB incense
Today was my first time altar serving at my home parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL. At 10:45am Mass, I did incense with my Pastor & Deacon for the feast of Christ the King. I fumbled around, but did fine and was warmly greeted after Mass.
DOTS: 6pm Mass — Mexican food — break over — Night Prayer: “keep routine”
ReBall paintball
Still on Thanksgiving break, I checked out a new type of paintball … “reball.” A place in Deerfield Beach called ReBall Madness had an indoor field with inflatable bunkers. The “painballs” are actually made of rubber shot at 240 feet per second (as opposed to 300 fps for regular paint-balls), so they’re reusable, hence “re-balls.” It’s about $45 for 3 hours play with endless air & ammo. They also have party packages so we can get a group rate of $500 for up to 15 players (including mask, guns & ammo) … comes out to $35 each … a great deal for paintball. Maybe we can get a group of guys from the seminary there one day. — I’d rather get guys into airsoft, cuz it’s cheaper and can play anywhere.
DOTS: Arby’s — Best Buy — Call of Duty 4 — Bois call
breaktime
DOTS: St Katherine Drexel 8:15am — 8:30am — Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro — TV catch-up — Boston Market — The Ex
Thanksgiving
10am Mass at my parish, St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL.
Thanksgiving Dinner with family was relaxing & delicious.
SJVCS Seminary Life Album
July '09 -- hospital chaplains @ IPF
Easter '09 -- Miami SJVCS friends
the Son always finds a break in let the clouds
Feb '09 -- school vocation talks @ AMHS
Feb '09 -- cold breakfast with brothers (Matias, Fenly & Randy), now at SVDP and Imad (at SJVCS)
Superbowl '09 -- eating great @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- Worklist Coordinators?
St Raphael Chapel mural @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- retreats @ SJVCS
"It's not easy being green"
Catholic Kermit 
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