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”
ReBall paintball
Still on Thanksgiving break, I checked out a new type of paintball … “reball.” A place in Deerfield Beach called ReBall Madness had an indoor field with inflatable bunkers. The “painballs” are actually made of rubber shot at 240 feet per second (as opposed to 300 fps for regular paint-balls), so they’re reusable, hence “re-balls.” It’s about $45 for 3 hours play with endless air & ammo. They also have party packages so we can get a group rate of $500 for up to 15 players (including mask, guns & ammo) … comes out to $35 each … a great deal for paintball. Maybe we can get a group of guys from the seminary there one day. — I’d rather get guys into airsoft, cuz it’s cheaper and can play anywhere.
DOTS: Arby’s — Best Buy — Call of Duty 4 — Bois call
breaktime
DOTS: St Katherine Drexel 8:15am — 8:30am — Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro — TV catch-up — Boston Market — The Ex
Thanksgiving
10am Mass at my parish, St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL.
Thanksgiving Dinner with family was relaxing & delicious.
my cassock
As our Thanksgiving break begins, I stopped by my parish rectory to pick up my new cassock & surpice for alter serving. I’ll be serving with my Pastor on Sunday at 10:45am Mass.
thanks dinner + Princess Bride + croquet
TESTS — Spanish & Old Testament. — both went pretty well.
THANKSGIVING DINNER — after a special 4:30pm Thanksgiving Mass (“subway” sermon), we had a great Thanksgiving dinner since we’re released for break after tomorrow’s morning Mass (which I have to serve as Acolyte).
PRE-T NIGHT — us Pre-Theologians are watching The Princess Bride in our off-campus house. Then played a couple exciting rounds of croquet in the back yard. Classic.
virtues – “Ch”
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Kant’s synthetic a priori : math, natural science, metaphysics, ethic/morals.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle’s “virtues” … (intellect vs moral). Moderation is the “golden mean” between virtue & vice. Being virtuous means (1) being excellent & (2) acting in an excellent way
MINISTERIAL METHODS – (Fr Michael) — (part 1) Being Attentive … What am I experiencing?
(part 2) Being Intelligent … Exploring … open to new data … make connections to experiences …. How do I make sense of my experience?
DOTS — OT Study Group — Spanish Study Group — Heroes — – “Ch”
soccer finals
SOCCER — the 4 team soccer season ended today. 2 championship games at 1 & 2pm. Great games & a great time.
BODIES
BODIES .. The Exhibition — some friends invited me to the BODIES Exhibit now showing on Las Olas Blvd in Ft Lauderdale. It was creapy at first, but very educational. I especially liked the warning sign before the fetal specimens showing several stages of a baby’s development. Also got to touch a real brain and the lungs of someone who smoked for 23 years. No photography allowed, so I found some pics online (click picture). If you can stomach the creapiness, I highly recommend it — $25 + $5 audio tour. (Humanities reimbursement, too)
3 people + yacht + multiple choir
MASS – (Fr Alvarez) — there are 3 kinds of people … those that live for things (most selfish) … those that live for ideas (most frustrated/ing) … those that live for people (most happy).
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — intro on Kant.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — discussed Aristotle‘s Nicomachean Ethics. What is true happiness? a yacht? … Virtue is connected with “habit” & “moderation”? … (for next time)
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — today was our test for the Medieval Period. We were told (several times) that it would be multiple choice, matching & true/false. So, what was it? … fill in the blank and true/false. — must be yet another test in patience.
MIAMI MEETING – (Fr Manny) — the Arch of Miami seminarians had a meeting reviewing our handbook.
ORGAN CONCERT — 8pm tonight was “An Evening of Sacred Music” by St John Neumann Festival Choir (all volunteers) at our St Raphael’s Chapel. The event was done to thank all the benefactors who have financial assisted the seminary with various projects, especially the repair of our organ (damaged in a hurricane years ago). A beautiful choir performance, but I would have like to hear more organ (– or more cowbell).
Pre-T bowl + croquet
PRE-T SOCIAL DAY — today, us Pre-Theology seminarians got together in the afternoon for some social bonding with some bowling at Bird Bowl. The pins were stubborn, but we had a great time. — I was “Agent Black”
SOCIAL PART 2 — afterwards, we played some Boggle [11 points for CLOISTER and body parts count] and then some Croquet in the backyard [freshly soded foot-tall grass] — I was out first.
STUDY GROUP — several evening study groups to prepare for tomorrow’s Arts & Ideas test on the medieval art period.
nominalism + Mandylion + sin catcher
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — turned in my reflection paper on the Christian religious icon “Mandylion.” In class we discussed nominalism … “Can God make a square circle? or a rock too heavy for God to lift?” … Aquinas says NO (can’t contradict himself) and William of Ockham says YES (can’t limit divine freedom).
LAUNDRY — Wednesday is my new laundry day and today was my first time at the new Pre-T house. Even with a busy day [3 morning classes, worklist, holy hour & finsh a reflection paper], I fit in my laundry time. As I was doing my drying, cleaning the “lint catcher” made me reflect on venial sins offered up at Mass — it could make for a good homily illustration. I took the “sin catcher” thought to “holy hour” and, since I remembered I left the dryer on, I also prayed I don’t burn the house down.
DOTS — lint catcher — house still standing — shrimp — no volleyball — online The Unit & Cane
leaking bucket + Hosea + Cuban food
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — Story of the “Leaking Bucket” … water flowers on path … just do what you’re asked to do.
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — we continued discussion on Major & Minor Prophets … then started Wisdom literature. I also turned in my “Bio-Poem” on the minor prophet Hosea:
Hosea
Israelite, prophet, husband, & father
Brother to Divine Empathy
Loves God, Israel, & Gomer
Who feels passionate, wounded, & righteous indignation
Who needs a family counselor, spiritual direction, & a “chillaxin” pill
Who fears self-righteousness, separation, & complacency
Who gives admonition, fidelity, & forgiveness
Who craves faithfulness, reunion, & restoration
Resident of (Northern) Israel
The Prophet
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today was Cuban Food Night. — Great eating!
DOTS — morning rainbow — lead evening prayer — The Unit — Cane
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
Applebee + uncle
MASS – (Fr Alvarez) — In today’s Gospel, Jesus preaches on being trusted with small vs great matters. Fr Alvarez shared about an Applebee‘s server in Chicago … top of his class … medical school … heart attack at 30 … refocus on what brings him joy … serving others … at Applebee’s.
DOTS — Call of Duty 4 — “uncle” — Lambs for Lions
1000 bell church + grassness + screen door
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — in today’s readings, “you are the temple of God.” — Small Island Church with 1000 Bells … earthquake sinks island … legends says, only the “pure of heart” can hear the bells … waves block sound … after month, one can finally hear the bells.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on “God.” — no miracles — [Međugorje]
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle on “soul.” — potency & actuality — analogies:
1st potency = (matter) = EYE / MIND / GRASS / ACORN SEED
1st actuality + 2nd potency = (form) = SIGHT / THOUGHT / GRASS-NESS / ACORN’s NATURE ESSENCE
2nd actuality = ACTUAL SEEING / THINKING / ??? / TREE ?
DOTS — soccer semi-finals — cable internet — new locks — “screen door”
Russian Choir
Tonight, 10 of us seminarians went to see the Russian Patriarchate Choir of Moscow at the Carnival Center in Downtown Miami. The Humanities Program at the seminary allow for ticket reimbursement to cultural events, so we got 2 boxes for an awesome performance. The 10 Russian men (in cassocks) had deep strong voices with such great polyphony that it reminded us of the Mystics from The Dark Crystal (a Muppet movie). A great experience for all of us. Extra thanks to Karen “Casandra” Garmin — you’re always welcome to join us!
De Anima + wax + incense
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on “self.” There is no real “present.” We need to make connections for survival/living/existence … “fides” (faith) & “fiducia” (trust/confidence).
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle‘s De Anima on the “soul.” His “soul” explains WHY something is alive, and not otherwise. // (don’t ask about Jesus in the Trinity using Aristotle’s form/matter?) // Man has a potentiality of becoming a corpse? // biggest advantages of Catholic over Protestants is we are (1) incarnational & (2) sacramental
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — Romanesque vs Gothic architecture.
WORKLIST — today I did “polishing” of all candle stick holders … which means I use a hairdryer to melt off the wax. — my fingers are still waxy
HOLY HOUR (bonus) — today I alter served during benediction at holy hour. I was the thurifer (incense guy) holding the thurible (incense burner on chain). I was nervous (afraid the coals would die out), but did ok. Holy hour included a considerable reflection on our fragile vocation. — memorable
DOTS — PreT lunch — spanish study group — Bionic Woman — CCC
bio-poem + Chinese food nite
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — discussed Major Prophets and practiced writing a Bio-Poem.
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today was Chinese Food Night. — Great eating, even for the “Mail Men”!
DISCERNMENT GROUP – (Fr Manny) — a few of us Miami guys joined the monthly Miami Vocations Discernment Group on campus led by Miami Vocation Director Fr Manny Alvarez. Today was mostly older guys … great group of guys!
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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