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whitewater trip tomorrow
Tomorrow night I leave on a road trip with 3 friends for 2 days of whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River (from the movie “Deliverance“) in Georgia. Since I’ve only done it once (back in 2002) and I haven’t rafted in over 2 years, I’m ready for a hurtin’. Just look at the pictures from last time (I’m the one falling out, of course). I hope the seminary is wheelchair accessible. I’ll be back Monday night.
(possibly final) Note: — if things go “well” (& I see Jesus), I’ll be waiting for everyone (you know who you are) in heaven (or I’ll hold a place in line in purgatory for ya) so “I’m sorry” (if I should be) and “be holy” (so I’m not waiting for eternity for ya) … love … Catholic Kermit!
my NEW website ?
Since my webhost (GoDaddy) finally made Community Server 2007 available, I revisited my attempt to create a web community for a bunch of my interests. A few months ago, I was trying to build some forums on vocations, youth ministry & righteous music, but PhatMass.com offers most of what I was envisioning — and their new look is AWESOME. Plus, I didn’t want to take away from their “Phat Phorum” with 3700 members, over 1 million posts, a “Vocation Station” and very committed to orthodoxy.
But, I still wanted to have a (web) place to post my christian concert & DJ training videos as well as pictures from ministry events (with some control to who can download & view). Community Server allows me to do all that, plus full featured sections like FORUMS (with moderation & permission controls), DOWNLOADS (for users to post docs, videos, programs, music & more), unlimited BLOGS (for each user, if they’d like), customizable RSS FEED READERS, plus AGGREGATE FEEDS (pull blog posts from anywhere on the net with an RSS feed).
I’m starting to play with it and customize (I even bought a book), but it’s not as easy as it looks. I’ve posted some photos of desktop wallpapers and pictures from the YES Retreat, but I’m stuck trying to get the RSS FEEDS working. Since I don’t have the full “Corporate” edition, they don’t offer phone tech support. I’m left with a book and their help forums. The program is based in ASP.NET and I may be reaching my frustration limits.
My (crawling) construction job is at CatholicKermit.com. Check it out and let me know what you think. (and try registering, so I can play with the membership features). — Anybody? Kermit?
Catholic military chaplains
I finally received a packet from the Vocation’s Director of the Archdiocese for Military Services (AMS). It contained a couple brochures specific to Catholic chaplains, but mostly brochures from the Army, Air Force & Navy. I asked for the Marines, but I guess they’re considered part of the Navy. Anyways, there’s some interesting figures:
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The AMS serves 375,000 Catholic soldiers — 520,000 family members — 204,000 in Reserves & National Guard — 29,000 Catholic patients in 172 Medical Centers — & 66,000 Catholics in government service overseas (in 134 countries).
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Geographically, the AMS is the largest in the Church, trans-national without borders at 220 installations in 29 countries.
- To meet all those needs, they have fewer than 350 full-time Catholic military chaplains with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines & Coast Guard.
- They have 480 priests serving part-time with Reserve forces & National Guard.
- The priests serving full-time are on loan from 142 dioceses and 44 religious communities.
As excited I am about the military, I also realize the needs and dynamics of serving soldiers can be extremely diferent from Miami pastoral ministry. I’d like to stay open to the possibility of a summer internship (in a theology year), but I don’t currently feel drawn into any permanent call. — I need to slow down and focus on the now.
Covenant House
I finally filled out the volunteer application for Covenant House, a Catholic shelter for homeless teens (under age 21) on Ft. Lauderdale beach. They’ve been looking to fill a “Pastoral Minister” position for years, but only recently found someone for the last couple of months. They organize spiritual activities like prayer services, council, Bible study, and take kids to church (of various faiths). It sounds like a difficult, but very necessary service for these teens.
After last months YES Retreat, which had a speaker from Covenant House, I decided to see if I could volunteer some time on the weekends, especially since our youth group is no longer active. While trying to get to the place today, the police had 2 blocks around the building blocked off — I thought it was a hostage standoff. Apparently, a dump truck driver knocked over some electrical poles and cause a major power outage. Of all days that I pick to go!
Just to top things off, I found out the new “Pastoral Minister” is leaving in a couple of weeks. — These kids just can’t get a break!
Y.E.S. Retreat video
I just finished editing DAY #2 and added 42 more pictures!
For status of the Y.E.S. Retreat video, the MASTER LIST of YES event links is HERE.
SJV pre-Theology program
The website for St. John Vianney College Seminary has a new look. It loads kind of slow, but looks pretty cool. I got excited when I saw the “tour of the chapel” because I thought it would give a detailed explanation of the mural above the altar (like they did at “Vocation Awareness Weekend”), but all it has is 3 close up pics of the front. — still better than the old sight.
Nevertheless, I finally know my courses for the 2-year Pre-Theology program (below) that I’m in. They also have the details of the Collegiate (4-year) program, news & a calendar for next year. — looks good.
Miami seminary
I was looking on the Archdiocese of Miami website for a video of catholic military chaplains that is no longer on their video page (–I downloaded it last year). There is, however, a great little video about St. John Vianney Seminary in Miami (which I’m starting next month) called “A Call to Faith” (DSL or dialup).
While I continued searching the website, I found a great article from last year called, “The people of God deserve the best.” It’s an interview with Father Michael Carruthers, the new rector of St. John Vianney Seminary. He spoke about the quality and “wholesomeness” of the young men who are entering the seminary today. I found a profile on him as well as 24 other priests on another page called “Building the City of God.” Besides hearing some great homilies last November @ the “Seminary Vocation Weekend,” I personally met with Father Carruthers (as part of the application process) and was very impressed by his sincerity, encouragement and attentive ear. — he’s definitely someone I look forward to grow with.
car repair
For the past 4 days I’ve been helping my father replace the gaskets for the valve covers of his minivan. That may sound easy, but removing the manifold covering one side took 2 days (lots of hoses & electrical to disconnect). That was supposed to stop an oil leak, but it didn’t. We did find a power-steering hose leaking … but replacing that clamp only took 15 minutes. — the oil leak search goes on.
military priests
Reading and writing about military chaplains over the past couple of days awoke my passion for the military. I wrote an email to the Archdiocese of Military Services, and got a response from Auxiliary Bishop Estabrook.
The Archdiocese of Military Services doesn’t take priests directly but rather accepts priests “on loan” from individual dioceses for a period of three years and up. They don’t have a seminary or incardinate priests. All their priests must have been priests and had a pastoral assignment for at least three years before coming on active duty.Each Service has a seminary program. When accepted by that Service and with permission of your diocese, you could be commissioned a reserve officer while in theology and have a chance to serve at an installation sometime during your studies just to see what the chaplaincy is like.
Father Chandler, the Vocations Director, will be sending me materials and be in touch. — I’ll see what happens.
Happy is God’s Will?
Continuing the discussion on “following God & seeking His Will” from last Sunday’s readings, I recall an experience. — Last year I was at a men’s study group where everyone was asked “How do you know you are following God’s will in your life?” After we spend some time getting everyone’s opinion (I forgot what I said), the facilitator (a priest) answered simply “When you’re happy.”
WHAT?!?! I hate that answer! (In his defense, we were running out of time and I think he was moving the meeting along) Happiness is relative and can be found in anything. Even doing something bad or sinful can have temporary (or fake longterm) happiness … that’s WHY we do bad things … it fills the “God-size” void we have.
Happiness is a feeling we get … and you can’t always trust feelings. “Joy,” on the other hand, is different. We get “joy” by knowing we have salvation through an active relationship with God. You can always be joyful even though circumstances may make us miserable and very UNhappy.
If a believer is being persecuted for their faith, are they following God’s will? Even though they’re not “happy” at the moment? Do we fast to be “happy”? I hope I misunderstood the answer, because I need some clarification. — Anyone else? Kermit?
MySpace
I started a MySpace page (as CatholicKermit, of course), but didn’t like it because the layouts are so “busy” and lack structure (unreadable backgrounds & fonts, crazy pictures sizes, etc). Now, I’m finding some friends that use it religiously, so I’m starting to see how easy it makes chatting.
Today, I found a bunch of bands and Christian DJs that I met at the Cornerstone Music Festival Dance Barn, like Scott Blackwell, Kenny Mitchell, DJ Lorraine, Andy Hunter, the Dance Chapel guy and more. The band news for some artists is better updated than their official websites. — I’ll give it another try.
WordPress problems
I started blogging for free at WordPress.COM (here) and loved it. Then I wanted my own domain (easier to find @ CatholicKermit.com) and signed up with GoDaddy because it includes free access to various programs, namely WordPress.ORG (which is fee supported). I wanted the extra customization that comes with WordPress.ORG and loved the extras & widgets & more. BUT … I’ve been having troubles (see my support questions) and considering giving up. So I’m back at WordPress.COM until I feel confident enough to go back. I still have CatholicKermit.com, but I redirected the “blog” to here.
YES pics available
Francis (Broward Youth Coordinator) from the Miami Office of Youth has posted some pictures from the Y.E.S. Retreat a couple weeks ago. All 11 pictures can be found here. This is just a reminder to me to GET THE VIDEO DONE! — Slacker
strength = weakness
In order to call yourself a true Christian, I think you need to honestly answer the question, “Do I trust God?” Many answer “NO” or avoid the question by hiding behind personal strengths or weaknesses. For example, if someone has great knowledge & intelect to debate various sides of an issue, the “strength” may become a substitute for faith, ultimately becoming a “weakness”. On the other side, the “weakness” of having limited knowledge may encourage more trust in God, resulting in a “strength.”
What brought this on? A teen on the YES Retreat challenged and humbled my lack of knowledge in the area of philosophy. His private school education and “independent” readings of Thomas Aquinas, Neitche and other philosophers got me lost in conversations at times. He even asked, “Can God create a rock that is so heavy that God could not move it?” Uhhhh … yes … no … yes? I don’t know. (if you’re reading this, I’d like an answer) My humility turned into a concern for his young (and growing) dependence on knowledge, that may cripple a faith in God if not balanced right. I know we each have a “void” we fill with our own comfortable “strength,” but some things make us “too smart for our own good” which pridefully answer the ultimate question with “NO.” — This is why I’m afraid of taking 2 years of philosophy.
evil love of money
A friend wanted to name his new son Maximus (& mom wouldn’t have it). Was there a saint named Maximus? Indeed there was. St. Maximus is an Eastern Orthodox saint and had some thoughful words on passions. Keeping in mind 1Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evils …,” St. Maximus says …
“There are three reasons for the love of money: pleasure-seeking, vainglory, and lack of faith. And more serious than the other two is lack of faith.
“The hedonist loves money because with it he lives in luxury; the vain person because with it he can be praised; the person who lacks faith because he can hide it and keep it while in fear of hunger, or old age, or illness, or exile. He lays his hope on it rather than on God the Maker and Provider of the whole creation, even of the last and least of living things.”
“There are found kinds of people who acquire money, the three just mentioned and the financial administrator. Obviously only he acquires it for the right reason: so that he might never run short in relieving each one’s need.” 400 Chapters on Love, 3.16-19
Putting these quotes together makes me stop, think and pray over my own intentions.
Wachovia is a thief
I finally closed an old youth group bank account with Wachovia. There were actually 2 mergers over the past few years and Wachovia had it currently. Inactivity and “service charges” depleted an account that I wasn’t able to close (because of the way the original account was set up). The little that was left was reimbursement for expenses I prepaid. In the end, Wachovia created rules and charges that ensured they made money at the expense of the weakest (a Christian youth group with little funds). A credit of 3 months of service charges with a negative account status resulting in an insulting $10 back — they can keep it. I won’t forgive them because they weren’t sorry at all. And I will definitely not forget. I’ll never work with them again.
YES video – “rip”
Today I started making room on a hard-drive for 80 GIG of space that I need to transfer (“rip”) from the camera to the computer. Each of the 4 tapes is 1.5 hours and take 20 GIG each. I ripped tape 2 & 4. The little that I watched looked good, not too shakey or dark. I did, however, forget to turn the camera off and times and recorded the floor (and my shoes) as I was walking (I hope there won’t be too much of that). The wheelchair races, Bishop Estevez, football and bingo looked good. — This should be fun.
Review YES Retreat 2007
The Youth Enjoying Service (Y.E.S.) Retreat is a 5 day (June 6-10th) service project experience for high school teens from all over the archdiocese of Miami. It’s is held at the Madonna Retreat House in Hallendale. This year had a small (but very lively) group of 12 teens.
This blog post will be the master directory of all the events & pictures from the video in case the locations change. You can find most of the events on PAGE 3 & PAGE 4 of my archives, but the link to each event is below:
——————– Day #1 / June 6 / Wednesday ——————–
(evening) Welcome + “Human BINGO” + “4 Winds Blow” + Dinner (11 pics)
(talk) “Catholic Social Teaching” (4 pics) — by Gloria Luna
——————– Day #2 / June 7 / Thursday ——————–
(morning) Breakfast + Prayer + Leaving by Bus (3 pics)
(project) St Elizabeth Gardens arrival + games + lunch + BINGO (27 pics)
(dinner) “Class” Dinner (5 pics)
(talk) “Immigration” (2 pics) — by Sr. Ondina Cortes
(evening) End of day sharing + making lunch (6 pics)
——————– Day #3 / June 8 / Friday ——————–
(morning) Breakfast + Prayer (? pics)
(project) Providence Place (? pics) — women’s shelter
(free time) S.W.A.T. training (? pics)
(talk) Monica Santos (? pics)
——————– Day #4 / June 9 / Saturday ——————–
(morning) Breakfast + Prayer (? pics)
(project) Daily Bread Food Bank (? pics) — food pantry
(free time) Football (? pics)
(talk) Convenant House (? pics) — shelter for runaway teens
(talk) “Eucharist” by Bishop Estevez (? pics) — a great surprise visit
(dinner) Dinner (? pics)
(service) Commissioning (? pics)
(nightime) Dancing? + “Mission Impossible” (? pics & 1 video)
——————– Day #5 / June 10 / Sunday ——————–
(morning) Breakfast + Prayer (? pics)
(closing) Closing Mass (? pics)
——————— STATUS of VIDEO EDITING ———————-
July 18 — finished day #2 (35 minutes) – “Class” dinner, immigration,
sharing, & making lunch
July 17 — working on day #2 – finished aerobics & BINGO (10 minutes)
July 03 — working on day #2 – finished wheelchair races (14 minutes)
June 29 — finished editing day #1 (7 minutes). See pics on PAGE 4 (middle).
June 28 — I found a 2 minute video clip on my memorystick. See it here.
June 27 — added blog posts of retreat events (without pictures, yet)
Francis also posted pictures of the retreat on the Office of Youth website.
Y.E.S. D5: Closing Mass
To close day #5 of the Y.E.S. Retreat, families were invited to celebrate Mass.
[pictures coming soon]
NOTE: MASTER LIST of all Y.E.S. events & video status HERE.
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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