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SJV faculty dinner

2008 faculty dinner @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

Tonight we got fancy for an evening dinner party for the faculty staff of St John Vianney College Seminary.

First with drinks & ordoirves.
Then with dinner & flaming deserts.
Then with retirement and anniversary awards.

2008 faculty dinner @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 2008 faculty dinner @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 2008 faculty dinner @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 2008 faculty dinner @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 2008 faculty dinner @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 2008 faculty dinner @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

Senior projects — day 2

April 24, 2008 1 comment

2008, Senior project presentation, St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL, seminariansToday was day 2 of 2 of the presentation of Senior Philosophy Projects.  15 minutes each.  8 seminarians.  Topics included (if I wrote them down right?):

  • (Peter) Hermeneutics & Gadamer
  • (Michael) Beauty
  • (Igor) Personalism …
  • (Vely) Poverty
  • (Madian) Slavery, Freedom, Conscience
  • (Julio) Immigration
  • (Justin) To “Be a Man”
  • (Ben) Anthropology of Karol Józef Wojtyła

Senior projects — day 1

2008 Senior Projects @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLToday was day 1 of 2 of the presentation of Senior Philosophy Projects.  15 minutes each.  9 seminarians.  [Worklist & Holy Hour cancelled today].  Topics included (if I wrote them down right?):

  • (George) Play on Words
  • (Jose) The character “Hector” in the Illiad & Odyssey
  • (Krem) Just War Theory
  • 2008 Senior Projects @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL(Carlos) Virtue of Justice
  • (Sergio) Dialogue with Cultures by Pope Pius XI
  • (Eddy) Happiness
  • (Elvis) Dialogue of Catholic Church with Liberalism
  • (Dom) Nietchze
  • (Robinson) Charity in St John Vianney

Rhode Island food night

Rhode Island cultural food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLCULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today was Rhode Island food night with lots of shell food … clams, muscles, clam chowder, and the best part … SWEET ICED TEA with LEMON … delicious!
Rhode Island cultural food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Rhode Island cultural food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 

Spanish class desayuno

Spanish class breakfast @ Brisa de EspanaSpanish class breakfast @ Brisa de EspanaSPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — today, we had class AND breakfast at Brisa de Espana, a local Spanish restaurant.  The food was great.  I had scrambled eggs with Spanish sausage an Arizona ice tea! 

We’re finishing our last chapter 18 with Si (if) clauses and a confusing summary of the use of the subjunctive (ALL OF THEM).  — I can’t say I was paying all my attention to our bookwork, cuz the food was delicioso!

Pre-T chapels blessing

Pre-Theology Night Prayer @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLPre-Theology Night Prayer @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLOur off-campus Pre-Theology homes were finally ready to have their individual chapels blessed.  Each of the 2 homes have room designated as an adoration chapel with the Blessed Sacrament exposed (not yet … that’s Saturday morning Mass in our back yards).  We have a red candle holder, holy water font, alter and tabernacle in each, so far. 

Us 12 Pre-Theologian seminarians had Night Prayer together and then blessed each chapel seperately (with some book delays).  — Beautiful.

Pre-T chapel tabernacle @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Pre-T chapel tabernacle @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Pre-T chapel tabernacle @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

apostalic work @ St Kevin

apostalic work at nursing homeSince all new seminarians this year will be assigned “apostalic work” next year, we’re observing other fellow seminarians in different current assignments for the last few Mondays of the semester.  Today, a small group of us visited a residential nursing home with 5 elderly women residents.  They were very cheerful and social with us.  Since they spoke Spanish, we didn’t know everything being said, but we all knew what was going on.  Some Scripture, prayer, sharing and lots of joy.  — the Lord’s humor is contagious

Jubilee monstrance pilgrimage @ SJV

Tonight ends a 2 week pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Miami of a monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II to encourage vocations, especially in this Golden Jubilee year.  Today at 8pm, here at St John Vianney College Seminary, we had a full chapel of visitor for Compline (Night Prayer) with benediction & adoration with the visiting vocation monstrance.  Auxiliary Bishop Noonan had a good reflection and I was lector (a bit pro-active) for a great experience.

Miami vocation monstrance pilgrimage @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Miami vocation monstrance pilgrimage @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Miami vocation monstrance pilgrimage @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

Serra Club + alter server Mass

Serra Club alter server Mass @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLMASS – (Fr Manny Alvarez) — today, I was lector for a special morning Mass honoring the best alter servers in the Archdiocese of Miami by the Serra Club (a great supporter of vocations).

 

Serra Club alter server Mass @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Serra Club alter server Mass @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Serra Club alter server Mass @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Serra Club alter server Mass @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 

Deacon ordination @ SVdP

2008 Deacon ordination @ St Vincent DePaul Major Seminary, Boyton Beach, FLToday, we drove up to St Vincent DePaul Major Seminary in Boyton Beach, FL (about an hour+) for the ordination of several Transitional Deacons (Priests next year, God willing) in a beautiful Mass with Orlando Bishop Wenski.  They also hosted us for lunch and fellowship.

2008 Deacon ordination @ St Vincent DePaul Major Seminary, Boyton Beach, FL 2008 Deacon ordination @ St Vincent DePaul Major Seminary, Boyton Beach, FL 2008 Deacon ordination @ St Vincent DePaul Major Seminary, Boyton Beach, FL 2008 Deacon ordination @ St Vincent DePaul Major Seminary, Boyton Beach, FL 2008 Deacon ordination @ St Vincent DePaul Major Seminary, Boyton Beach, FL 2008 Deacon ordination @ St Vincent DePaul Major Seminary, Boyton Beach, FL

Notre Dame Haitian Mission

Tonight was another stop of a 2 week pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Miami of a monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II to encourage vocations, especially in this Golden Jubilee year.  Today at 7:30pm, I joined a few haitian seminarians and our Vocation Director Fr Manny Alvarez at Notre Dame Haitian Mission parish for an evening of praise and worship with benediction & adoration before the visiting vocation monstrance.  It was very Spirit-filled 3 hours with the vocation testimony of Fr Alvarez and anointings with sacred chrism.  — an awesome night (with lots of holy water)

praise & worship with vocation monstrance @ Notre Dame Haitian Mission, Miami, FL praise & worship with vocation monstrance @ Notre Dame Haitian Mission, Miami, FL praise & worship with vocation monstrance @ Notre Dame Haitian Mission, Miami, FL

POLISH food night

April 15, 2008 2 comments

Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLCULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — finally!  Tonight was POLISH food night!  Thanks especially to my Mother for her recipes and advice to START MONDAY (yesterday) … we barely finished by dinner time … the blessing of my wise Mother (and Mary, too).

making gołąbki @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLYesterday, we made the potato and cheese fillings, but spent most of the time working on the gołąbki (stuffed cabbage rolls).  Gołąbki is a hearty traditional Polish dish consisting of boiled cabbage leaves stuffed with ground beef, chopped onions, and rice or barley, baked in a spicy tomato sauce; similar to a Cabbage roll.  By the time we stopped on Monday, we only had 1.3 pans full of them (we needed 3).

making gołąbki @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL making gołąbki @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL making gołąbki @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 

Today, in the morning, we started the desert with Ramon, our Dominican cook.  The desert was makowiec, a poppy seed roll, with a glaze or powdered sugar.  By lunch time, we had 3 pans of golabki ready to bake (at least 2 hours needed).  After lunch, we got more help from Puerto Rico, Vietnam, Panama, Austria & more to stuff and pinch hundreds of pierogi (stuffed dumplings) with potato and cheese (seperate).

making pierogi @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL making pierogi @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL making pierogi @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

Final phase was the delicate rolling of the poppy seed roll desert, makowiec.  We made 5 rolls with some experience from Randy & Ramon (I looked very administrative = more watch, less work).  With an extra special Vodka topping, it came out AWESOME (in every aspect of its “being”, including ontologically).  We also served some hot kielbasa (sausage).

making makowiec, poppy seed cake @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL making makowiec, poppy seed cake @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL making makowiec, poppy seed cake @ Polish food night @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

Thank you to all who helped, especially my brothers in Christ (and Mom)!

Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL

April 13, 2008 3 comments

About 1 Sunday each month, all of us seminarians here at St John Vianney College Seminary visit a different parish of the Archdiocese of Miami.  Our Rector started the tradition last year and I thinks it’s a great idea.  It exposes us to different parish life as well as makes us visible to the community as a living vocation poster.

Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL & seminarians from St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL & seminarians from St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL & seminarians from St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL & seminarians from St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Today, we all drove up to my ‘hood to Little Flower Parish in Hollywood, FL.  (My parish of St Bernadette is also in Hollywood.)  The pastor Fr O’Dwyer was one of the priest how interviewed me during my seminarian application last year.  The parish was very inviting and provided great food after Mass with lots of conversation with parishoners.  I even found a family to practice my Polish with.  — Definitely, a great tradition I hope we continue

 Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL & seminarians from St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL & seminarians from St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL & seminarians from St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

Ben’s midnight pancakes

Ben\'s midnight pancakes @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLAn occasional tradition in the house that we’re all gonna miss since Ben is graduating and moving onto major seminary at St Vincent DePaul Seminary in Boyton Beach next year.  — great pancakes

Senior rockers gift

2008 rocking chair gift from Seniors @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLAfter our Rector’s Conference (a summary of all conferences throughout the year), the graduating Senior & Pre-Theology 2 classes presented the rest of the “house” with a gift.  They gave us 4 wooden rocking chairs to surround our “Philosophy” hangout table outside the library.  Each has a small plaque with last year’s theme, “Men of Communion” in 4 different languages … English … Spanish … Creole … Latin.  — a great idea for something we’ll all use regularly … Thank you!

2008 rocking chair gift from Seniors @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL 2008 rocking chair gift from Seniors @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FL

CCD @ St Catherine of Siena

St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Miami, FLSince we’ll be assigned “apostalic work” next year, we’re observing other fellow seminarians in different current assignments for the last few Mondays of the semester.  Today, I observed an 8th grade CCD Confirmation class at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Miami, not too far from the seminary.

We were greeted by Pastor Fr Sosa and served an awesome dinner.  (Patricio’s Monday meatloaf will have to wait.)  His dog was also very friendly.  — the class went great!

A week before Easter, the parish church building was set on fire by a couple local teenagers.  About one million dollars in damage.  While repairs are being done, Mass is done outside under the overhang area of the church entrance.  — We’ll definitely keep them all in our prayers.

St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church overhang St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church overhang St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church dog St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church dinner St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church dinner

Miami vocation monstrance pilgrimage begins

Miami Vocation Monstrance @ St Mary\'s Cathedral @ VespersMiami Vocation Monstrance @ St Mary\'s Cathedral @ VespersToday begins a 2 week pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Miami of a monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II to encourage vocations, especially in this Golden Jubilee year.  It starts today at the Cathedral and travels to a different parish each day, ending on Sunday April 20 here at St John Vianney College Seminary. (flyer with all location here — pdf Acrobat file)

Today at 4pm, we were at St Mary’s Cathedral for Vespers (Night Prayer) with benediction & adoration with the visiting vocation monstrance.  A great sermon by Archbishop Favalora with a memorable exit (wave).

Spanish class dinner

In order to catch-up on some missing Spanish, our professor invited us to his home this evening for dinner and a study session.  Our hosts were generous beyond words with a delicious steak dinner.  We also brought some desert (very rich).  Discussions were about everything … pet dogs … pink glass cleaner … our Easter break … Narnia (movie & book) … conditional tenses … past perfect subjunctives … que haria Jesus (WWJD) … million dollar dreams … dwarfs … poetry … and more.   — a great evening.
Spanish class dinner — pet dogs Spanish class dinner — desert

Easter Sunday @ my parish

March 23, 2008 2 comments

For Easter Sunday, I served at Masses at my parish.

2008 Easter Mass @ St Bernadette Catholic Church, Hollywood, FL  2008 Easter Mass @ St Bernadette Catholic Church, Hollywood, FL

soldier charity + Catholic teacher + A River Runs Through It

February 8, 2008 Leave a comment

Lenten Mass @ St John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, FLMASS – (Fr Alvarez) — today is the feast day of St Jerome Emiliani.  He was a soldier who left the military life to pursue great acts of charity, especially in caring for the sick in hospitals, the poor and children in orphanages.  — his life resonates with me, especially with my past interest in the military (in which health concerns removed)

Immaculate Conception School observationFIELD TRIP — for our Ministerial Practicum class, in the afternoon, we went to a local Catholic school to observe the teaching styles and techniques in order to prepare our own lesson plans.  I was in a 7th grade English class at Immaculate Conception Catholic School and, embarassingly, couldn’t answer some of the questions my self.  — when do you use who or whom?

A River Runs Through It (film)MOVIE NIGHT — after dinner, the Humanities Department sponsored a movie night featuring A River Runs Through It with great discussion afterwards. — I didn’t get that deep into the movie, but after discussion, I have a greater appreciation for its subtle lessons and observation on life’s journey.