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St Brendan chapel + SJV chapel
After a long evening walk with some seminarian brothers, we stopped at St Brendan’s Catholic Church adoration chapel since it’s next door to the seminary grounds. Actually, last September 2007, this adoration chapel was the site of an alleged sillouette of the Holy Family on a white tapistry. The sillouette was cast by a shadow from a candle. The alleged event lasted a few day and even made it in the local Miami Herald. — this is my first time in the beautiful chapel myself.
I also took a picture a few days ago of one of our seminary adoration chapels on campus here at St John Vianney College Seminary. It’s located upstairs at the end of the hall of the seminary dormitory. — a great place to spend time with the Lord
MorningStar Renewal Center
Our 4-day silent retreat was at the beautiful MorningStar Renewal Center in Miami, FL (7275 SW 124th Street). We were 60+ seminarians (2 per room) and very comfortable. The place is run entirely by volunteers and the food was excellent. Here are some pictures of the facilities & grounds.
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.
gothic variety + gargoyles + corruptio
MASS – (Fr Santos) — when it comes to bad influences and avoiding scandal, be transparent and trust formation.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — summarize Hume.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle‘s 3 kinds of soul … vegetative, animal & rational.
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — discussed variations in gothic architecture: French/German, English, Spanish, & Italian Gothic. Then gargoyles (with water spouts) & grotesques (no spouts). // corruptio optima pessima est = “corruption of the best is the worst” // — guys care about winning, no matter what kind of baseball team.
MINISTERIAL METHODS — missed class ‘cuz of last night Denny’s (I think). — I can’t eat like some of these younger guys … old man!
Mass @ St Augustine
EVENING MASS – (Fr Michael) — today was our monthly parish visitation Mass. We attended the 8pm Mass at St Augustine Catholic Church, also the home the the University of Miami’s Catholic Campus Ministry.
DOTS — lector — mobile dance party — Denny’s
cemetery Mass
All Souls’ Day Mass today was with Miami Archbishop Favolora at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Doral, FL. A beautiful service and we visited the graves of Miami priests & bishops of the archdiocese. Our classes were cancelled for the day and we returned to finish setting up for tonight’s Vocation Awareness Weekend, where 50+ young men from all over Florida are considering the priesthood.
St Bonaventure Catholic Church in Davie or Weston, FL
Today, on mid-semester break, I went to St Bonaventure Catholic Church to pray in their chapel. I caught the end of their school childrens’ Mass with lively music (like “South to the NORTH!”) and a presentation for “Hispanic Heritage Month.” — nice Mass, but I didn’t recognize the Eucharistic Prayer for concecration … there must be a “children’s liturgy” I don’t know about.
After asking 3 people, I finally found the chapel for a holy hour. Very spacious, beautiful altar, stained glass and a side area with Mary & candles.
Bishop funeral @ Cathedral
Today was the funeral Mass for Archbishop Ambrose Battista De Paoli, Priest of the Archdiocese of Miami and Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, at St Mary’s Cathedral. A beautiful Mass with bishop from the Vatican, pastors & priest (local & from abroad), religious and more.
St Katherine Drexel Parish, Weston, FL
Today, while on mid-semester break, I went to St Katherine Drexel Parish in Weston for daily Mass. At 8:15am the Deacon led Morning Prayer and then did a Communion Service at 8:30am. A beautiful chapel to spend some time in.
St Bernadette Parish chapel, Hollywood, FL
Today, on mid-semester break, I spent some time at my home parish chapel at St Bernadette in Hollywood, FL.
home parish visit
Today, while on mid-semester break, I stopped by my home parish @ St Bernadette in Hollywood. I visited the afternoon RCIT (high school Confirmation preparation) class to discuss vocations & life in the seminary to almost 20 teens. I joined them for the 6pm Youth Mass, with teen ushers, readers and more. A great home visit!
Locke exam + Visitation Parish
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Mid-term exam on John Locke. 3 essays. — I think I did exceptionally well.
MID-TERM BREAK BEGINS — after, our last class today, we can leave for our weeklong break. Without anymore tests and papers due, some of us need to keep busy doing anything … even arm-wrestling before class … all in brotherly fellowship (… I hope).
VISITATION PARISH — On my way driving home, I dropped off a seminarian staying at The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Miami. Fr Chris Marino is the pastor of a beautiful parish. I saw the newly redone interior, but the lights were off, so I only took pictures outside. There are also some great pictures on their website. It’s also the former parish of my current Pastor Fr Dalton.
Nuestra Senora de la Caridad
Today, there was no morning Mass since we went to the University of Miami Convocation Center for a special Mass for the 40th Anniversary of the Shrine to Our Lady of Charity. The seminarians were called upon to assist each priest with distribution of Holy Communion. The responsibility was a bit intimidating at first (with such a big crowd), but everything went smooth, by the grace of God. Here are some pictures:
pre-Socratics – Luther – service – Shrine
Monday started out-of-whack without morning Mass (because we’re going to the Shrine tonight). — lots of Laboring done today.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — we continued from the Rhineland Mysticism (late Mid-Ages) through Martin Luther (1483-1546). As I start digesting some of this stuff, my thoughts and slow “question-generator” are interupted by others’ quick comments & questions. I know I’m slow with the processing, but at least Wednesday will be a “question-day.” I need to remember to look-up Meister Eckhart and his doctrines. We got back our True/False Quiz from Friday. 10 out of 15 is not good — but some of those were tricky.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — we covered 8 pre-Socratic philosophers like Thales of Miletus, Anaximenez, Anaximander, Heraclitus, Pythagoras, Parmenides, Zeno, & The Atomists (Democritus & Leucippus). We got back out Quiz from Friday. 10 out of 10 — I need to enjoy it while I can … they WILL get harder.
ARTS & IDEAS – no Fr Vallee today, still on Labor Day vaction — must be nice.
MINISTERIAL METHODS – (Fr Michael) — we reviewed the definition of “ministry” and discussed the broader call the “service” that all ministers should have. We were given Colossians 3:12-23 to meditate on throughout is week with Lectio Divina. — what is holding me back from having a true heart of service?
LECTURE AUDIOS – I recorded today’s 3 lectures on my mini digital audio recorder. It took a while to figure out how to convert the big WAV format to MP3, but I finally found a way to normalize & convert to MP3 @ 24kps. I also put copies in a Lecture folder on my Shared Docs in case someone else from class wants a copy.
8pm MASS @ Shrine of Our Lady of Charity – we carpooled for a Mass ending the Novena to Our Lady of Charity. A beautiful spanish Mass in a beautiful shrine. We each received a Papal blessing & picture of Pope Benedict XVI. Trying to understand the spanish homily only reminded me to finish studying for an eleven chapter Spanish test in the morning.
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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