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Caribbean food night
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — Tonight was West Indies (Caribbean) Food Night, a combination of Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti and Puerto Rico. Lots of good food … some more spicey than others. I hope I can remember all the food off the top of my head … here we go …
drink … Sky Juice (coconut + ?) … Bahamas
soup … Pumpkin soup … Haiti
meat … jerk chicken & beef … Jamaica
rice … yellow rice & beans … Puerto Rico
appetizers … great bread + (meat-filled baked pockets – look like empenadas)
plantains
dessert … Rum cake … wizardry of “Oz”
Great food!
Here’s some pics of all the work involved. I helped Eric pack the appetizers with some origami techniques. 🙂
Humanities conf
Tonight, we had our annual Humanities Conference. Our special guest was Fr Mark, a Dominican priest who teaches at Barry University. He did a great powerpoint presentation on “Visual Christianity: Interpreting the Theological Tradition.” Lots of architecture from Revena, Italy as well as Wahaka, Mexico.
Fr Richard Vigoa Mass
MASS — today we had another visiting celebrant for Mass. Fr Richard Vigoa is a newly ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Miami in residence at St Michael the Archangel Catholic Church here in Miami. He was also a graduate of St John Vianney College Seminary. It was great to see his joy for the priesthood and some shared experiences when he discerned here. — a great visit!
Mass @ St Agnes
Tonight we were invited to the evening Youth Mass at St Agnes Catholic Church in Key Biscayne, FL nearby. A beautiful parish with a loving faith community. We lectored, ushered the collection and spoke to several parishoners after Mass. — afterward, Doral Ale House : )
Fr Joseph Kottayil
At the end of this morning’s Mass, we recognized the celebrant, Fr Joseph Kottayil, for his priesthood and brotherhood here at St John Vianney College Seminary. He is one of our “in house” Spiritual Directors. The Student Council, this year, decided to keep, in an extra-special way, a different priest of the house in our prayers each month. Last month, September 2008, we all focused on Fr Joseph. This month, it is Fr Santos. — Thank you, Fr Joseph, for you!
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Father Joseph Kottayil was born April 1, 1959, in Kerala, the most Catholic state of India, he is the fifth of seven children. Ordained Dec. 23,
1979, he came to the United States in 1990 and worked at St. Agnes Parish in downtown Brooklyn, N.Y. The cold winter did not suit him, however, so a priest friend invited him to come to South Florida. Since 1991, he has served at St. Coleman Parish in Pompano, St. Maximilian Kolbe in Pembroke Pines, St. John Neumann in Kendall and St. Catherine of Siena in Miami. On July 1, 2002, he was named pastor of the newly-created Blessed John XXIII Parish in Miramar. Today is a permanent “in house” Spiritual Director at St John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, FL
For more info, see some personal question & answers on the Archdiocese of Miami HERE.
Sign on his desk: “Be patient. God isn’t finished with me yet.”
croquet + Chris West + fresh cookies
After dinner, the Pre-Theology houses had some late night [low light] Croquet games, followed by part 1 of Christopher West’s “Proclaiming the Theology of the Body (for Priests)“ audio series. Everything accented by some freshly baked cookies. — real brotherhood
Miami Jubilee Vespers + Primum Regnum Dei
Tonight, at 4:30pm, the Miami Seminarians were at St Mary’s Cathedral in Little Haiti for Vespers (evening prayer) and a special recognition awards service started by Bishop Carroll called Primum Regnum Dei.
parent dinner + talent show
To close Parent Day @ SJVCS, we had a delicious dinner and Talent Show by some gifted brother seminarians. Songs, poetry, music, and Randy performing “Mack the Knife” like Louis Armstrong. —Awesome night!
Parent Day Mass + lion tattoo
On Parent (visiting) Day, we had a beautiful Mass with all our families. Our Rector, Fr Michael, had a great homily about the formation of Men here at St John Vianney College Seminary using a story of a wuss getting a tattoo of a lion on his back. You can’t pick and choose areas that are easy to change. If you’re getting a tattoo, you can’t leave off some parts … it needs to be complete in order to claim the real thing. Any real formation requires some level of sacrifice and pain in order for true growth. It’s not just a Catholic idea, either. —powerful
golf cart labor Jefes + Bishop’s Day Off
WORKLIST — On Wednesday afternoons we all have a Work List Job that involves some kind of manual labor around the seminary campus. The job changes each semester.
This semester, I’m the Work List Coordinator Assistant (that’s why I can’t drive the golf cart). My job changes depending on the needs of all the areas of work but looking cool in a golf cart is the most important job description. : )
BISHOP’s DAY OFF — With all our work we’ve done over the last couple weeks, and most especially yesterday’s celebration for Bishop Noonan’s 25th Priestly Anniversary, we were given a DAY OFF under special dispensation by the Bishop himself … which is this Friday! — We LOVE our Bishop Noonan! (not just for the day off, but that’s nice too!)
Bishop Noonan’s 25 year party
Tonight, we helped Miami Auxiliary Bishop John Noonan celebrate his 25th Anniversary of his priesthood. Us seminarians spent much of the afternoon preparing with table set-ups. The evening began with a beautiful Mass. The homily enlightened all to how personable Bishop Noonan has always been. Afterwards was a reception with dinner and stories mostly from former seminary classmates of the Bishop’s. Great food, fellowship and priestly fraternity. (I was a bartender and table server) — Congratulations again, Bishop Noonan!
Miami Priest Convocation
Today is the last day of the Miami Archdiocesen Priest Convocation (every 2 years) held at the Hyatt Regency in Weston, FL. The theme coincided with Pope Benedict’s emphasis on the Writing of St Paul this year.
I served morning Mass & prayer with 3 brother seminarians. It was a great experience to see so many priests together in fellowship. The most powerful moment was the prayer of concecration said by the whole room as we celebrated the Lord’s Supper. I wish I could have taken a picture. — I’m blessed to have been chosen to be present and serve.
beach day @ Bill Baggs
Every few weeks, Fr Michael [rector] has an optional social trip on Saturdays. Today was a beach day at Bill Baggs State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida. Perfect weather, perfect food, perfect company. It was perfect! — except for my sunburn
student government
Today was our first Student Council meeting for the year. We elected Deans and Vice-Deans for each class level. We also discussed several open forum issues with lots of feedback. — hear ye hear ye
La Bohème opera
Went with R to see the opera La Bohème at the Carnival Center in Miami, FL. It’s my first opera … pretty good … sad … but good.
beach day @ Key Biscayne, FL
A great time on the beach in Key Biscayne in our own pavillion.
BBQ + water balloons + movie night
With today being the last day of final exams, we celebrated with a dinner Bar-B-Que, a water balloon fight and movie night with unlimited desserts
thank you lunch
Today was a Kitchen & Service Staff Appreciation Lunch cooked by Fr Vallee and Javier, served by some seminarians for staff here at St John Vianney College Seminary.
Confirmation Mass
Today, I helped alter serve at my home parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church (Hollywood, FL) for Confirmation Mass with Miami Auxiliary Bishop Roman and Deacon Blanco (from St Brendan High School), along with my pastor Fr Dalton, Deacon Lou, and Fr Kris (from Archbishop McCarthy High School). A beautiful Mass for some great kids and parents (some I taught last year in CCD).
Pre-T backyard Mass
The adoration chapels in the Pre-Theology houses are ready for the Blessed Sacrament. Today, we had a morning Mass in our backyard with ALL seminarians for a beautiful celebration surrounded by all God’s creation. — awesome
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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