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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!”
2007 blog traffic
This blog (on WordPress) has some easy to use tracking features. Here’s some blog traffic I’ve had this year, since I’ve started in May, by days, by weeks and by months.
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
Gaudeamus skit + gifts
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — last exam & turned in reflection paper on “Amadeus highlighting the Modern Period”
GAUDEAMUS — There’s a tradition at the seminary, called Gaudeamus, where a skit is performed to make fun of seminarians. At the end of the first semester, all new guys are highlighted. At the end of the second semester, seniors are highlighted. Since I’m a “new guy,” over the last week, guys are asking what I think they “have on me.” I have no idea — hopefully nothing that will haunt me throughout seminary. After dinner at 9:30pm, we all gather in the Community Room for the “show.” Just when I think I’m safe, the FIRST guy that comes out is “ME” — making fun of me taking fruit (if that’s all the got, I dodged that bullet!). The whole skit was hillarious with great impressions, including the Rector Fr Michael, Fr Santos, Fr Vallee, & Bishop Noonan.
CHAPEL GIFTS — Our last activity together (besides tomorrow’s morning Mass) was Night Prayer in the Chapel. Afterwards, each class presented their Christmas gifts to their chosen priest and the Rector’s staff presented each of us with a gift — a SJV personalized messenger bag — AWESOME!
Amadeus
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — Final Exam. — I guess it went ok?
EVENING MOVIE — tonight, we watched Deck the Hall drive-in style with a projector outside for the whole community.
WRITE A PAPER — today I re-watched Amadeus for my Arts & Ideas reflection paper due tomorrow. Here is my opening paragraph:
The Modern period, beginning with the Renaissance, is most known for its ideas in rationalism, empiricism, enlightenment and romanticism. A reflection of the time can be seen in the he 1984 film Amadeus, based on Peter Shaffer’s stage play. The story takes place during the end of the 18th century and is based on the lives of two composers of the time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Within the film, signs of the “modern period” can be seen. More specifically, the modern traits of displaced eschatology, the rise of the genius and technology are demonstrated in Amadeus.
2 exams + semester evaluation
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — 36 multiple choice questions. (found out later — 2 wrong 94%)
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — 5 essay questions. (found out later — 93%)
SPANISH STUDY SESSION – (Dr Jimenez) — we had a great EXTRA review session with our professor.
SEMESTER EVALUATION — at the end of each semester, each seminarian is given a written evaluation (with an interview). Mine went very well. What was observed: I’m open and engaged in formation, quiet, mature, willing to serve others, responsible and diligent in academics and house duties. What I need to work on: share my gifts more confidently within the seminary community. Final recommendation: I should continue in the program of priestly formation. — It wasn’t nearly as scary as some veterans made it out to be.
Lost Sheep + cram day
MASS – (Fr Santos) — the Lost Sheep gospel reading — don’t forget importance of the other dependent communal shephards (fellow seminarians).
STUDY GROUPS — since I have no exams today, it’s cram day for 2 exams tomorrow (Ancient Philosophy & Old Testament). Burger King & CVS runs. -Cef
EVENING MOVIE — Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
vocation Mass + Jubilee Rosary + 4 movies
VOCATION MASS – (Fr Manny) –the Miami seminarians were asked to serve this morning for a special vocations Mass on this feast of the Immaculate Conception. Afterwards, we helped serve refreshments outside the Main Chapel.
JUBILEE ROSARY – (Archbishop Favalora) — 7pm tonight was a Rosary with the Archbishop during this Jubilee Year Celebration of the Archdiocese of Miami here at our Main Chapel @ St John Vianney College Seminary. Beautifully done.
MOVIE DAY — today, I watched 4 movies throughout the day … The Muppet Christmas Carol … Back To The Future … The 5th Element … Rat Race … with L-Wendy’s & D-McNuggets … I have no explanation 🙂
postmodern + Monsignor + Christmas dinner
MASS – (Fr Vallee) — “frail bird”
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — finish Hegel. Turned in reflection paper on Locke.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — finish Neoplatonism. Turned in reflection paper on Epicureanism.
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — as the last day of class before finals week, we covered the Post-Modern Period in 1 day.
VIGIL MASS + MONSIGNOR – (Fr Michael) — [2 battleships practicing] we celebrated a Vigil Mass for tomorrow’s feast of the Immaculate Conception. Bishop Noonan began Mass by announcing our rector Fr Michael Carruthers has been made a Monsignor (along with 20+ others in our diocese during this Jubilee Year), but he still prefers us to call him “Father.” — Congratulations!
CHRISTMAS DINNER — especially for faculty member, we had a big Christmas Dinner with ham, pork, rice & beans, green beans, po-ta-toes, fudge pie, key lime pie, apple dessert, & a bowl of strawberry/blueberry “mix” — GREAT!
spinach + Robitussin
MASS — [left shine]
SPANISH – (Dr Jimenez) — chaper 14 test + dictation + evaluation.
LUNCH — food court @ Dolphin Mall with J.
DINNER — Spinach lasagna (with nuts & hard pasta)? + Robitussin drink + scarce salad bar.
RECTOR’s CONFERENCE – (Fr Michael) — part 2 on Virtues for new guys.
TV — watched last to episodes of Pushing Daisies procrastinating 2 philosophy papers due tomorrow. [a blessing in disguise]
Austrian food night
EVENING PRAYER — today I led evening prayer before dinner.
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today’s theme is Austria. Great food with apple struddle for desert!
dialectic + stoicism + Serra dinner
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — Francis Xavier – preach the Gospel … if necessary use words.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hegel’s “dialectic” … thesis – antithesis (“marker is NOT a turkey“) – synthetic. Look up Anthropic Principle = Hegel?
ANCIENT – (Fr Santos) — handout on Epicureanism & Stoicism. — I think I’ll do my reflection paper on Epicureanism.
SERRA CLUB DINNER – (Fr Manny) — the Miami Pre-Theologians (me) helped our vocation director at the annual Serra Club Dinner honoring Religious men & woman at St Martha Catholic Church next to the Archdiocesen Pastoral Center. — Great people, food and Christmas caroling!
pre-T BBQ
WASHING DISHES — I cleaned some more.
FOOTBALL — finally some “American football.”
EVENING BBQ — we had a community BBQ at our Pre-Theology homes for dinner. Squired chicken & shrimp, cornbread, corn, baked po-ta-toe, ice cream, brownies … awesome food & fellowship!
Leo X + Pieta + Las Culebrinas
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — Andrew the Apostle — known as the introducer.
NO PHILOSOPHY CLASSES — Fr Santos is out of town.
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — modern philosophers. Renaissance popes Sixtus IV (Sistine Chapel), Alexander VI (Borgia – nepotism), Julius II (warrior) and Leo X (Medici). Michelangelo‘s Pieta. Our chapel’s murial — zodiac references.
MIAMI DINNER — today Fr Manny took all the Miami seminarians out to dinner to a fancy local Cuban restaurant Las Culebrinas. Great food and even better desert.
DOTS — “bread shark” — grass smell
masculinity + Mexican food nite + garden Mass + floss
SPANISH – (Dr Jimenez) — chapter 14 vocab dictation test.
MIAMI VOCATION – (Fr Manny) — check-up interview with my vocation director.
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — Wisdom literature & Old Testament Masculinity to reflect on. Males: Warrior – Moses // Prophet – Jeremiah (lie detector) // Trickster – Jonah. Male Independence + Autonomy: Wildman – Elijah // Pilgrim – Abraham. Male Vulnerability: Healer – Elisha. Masculine Responsibility: The Patriarch – Abraham // The King – Solomon.
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today’s theme was Mexican Food Night. — we tried to stick with the theme and avoid drinking the water
GARDEN MASS – (Fr Michael) — 9pm to change from the “routine” … “calm storm” … hit by wave … firefighter hat
DOTS — Aristotle study group — floss run
gym rats + hedonism + Annunciation + limo driver
MASS – (Fr Santos) — “gym rats” — “juice” — sacrifice.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — test on Hume. — I think I wrote the same answer for all 3 questions … it’s got to apply to at least one
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — start philosopher Epicurus with his Epicureanism & “hedonism“ … (Letter to Menoeceus) … believe in gods … everything is material … death is, therefore, not something to be feared … focus attention on life, the happy, pleasant, and pleasurable life. — It sound nice … most people today live exactly this way … even those in church.
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — started Renaissance by comparing 2 painting of the Annunciation, by Sandro Botticelli & Fra Angelico.
MINISTERIAL METHODS – (Fr Michael) — (part 3) Being Discerning … level of judgement … does my understanding correspond to what is true? (Limo driver interviews ’round a hill)
(part 4) Being Responsible … level of decision … What should I do?
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”
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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