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Vocation Awareness Weekend
This weekend is Vocation Awareness Weekend, where 60+ young (and not so) men from all over Florida spend the weekend with us to see if they’re called to discern the priesthood. From Friday night through Sunday afternoon, we host a full schedule of events including food, academic info, tours, informal discussions, skits, sports, prayer and a Saturday evening adoration procession. Great weekend!
cemetery Mass
All Souls’ Day Mass today was with Miami Archbishop Favolora at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Doral, FL. A beautiful service and we visited the graves of Miami priests & bishops of the archdiocese. Our classes were cancelled for the day and we returned to finish setting up for tonight’s Vocation Awareness Weekend, where 50+ young men from all over Florida are considering the priesthood.
NEW crib
After dinner, the Pre-Theologians (only) were allowed to move into the NEW “off-campus” housing. Some guys will be sharing a bathroom, but since I’m so old, I have my own bathroom & walk-in closet — probably the best room in the house(outside of the priest’s suite). We have some common areas like the sitting room, living room, kitchen & back yard. Our room are furnished with glass-top desks and “pillow-top” matresses. — I’m not worthy! Our first evening meal together was McDonalds — and so begins our downward spiral 🙂
OLD crib
This morning, on the way to breakfast, we saw a FULL RAINBOW over the main Chapel. What’s at the end? Probably the new Pre-Theology “off-campus” housing that we’re moving into TOMORROW, weather permitting. I took some pictures of my current shared quarters.
acorn + Halloween
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on “causality” (3)
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — acorn seed (potentiality) vs tree (actuality)
HALLOWEEN PARTY — pumkin carving contest, bobbing for apples, pie (spagetti) eating contest, & costume contest. Great!
Panama food nite
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today’s theme was “Panama.” Since there’s only 2 Panamanian seminarians here, a few of us (“honorary Panamanians“) helped Chef Ramon & Chef Randy to cook some great food, drinks and desert from Panama. They also showed a video on the “Panama Canal.” Lots of work … lots of Rum … lots of fun … and (again) lots of work. — I don’t know how the staff cooks 3 meals everyday for 70+ of us — God bless ’em!
okra
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on the “world” — what is “okra“? — describe it
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle — modes of “being”
DOTS — roomie
“book” + clay ashtray – “J”
MASS – (Fr Michael) — the main Chapel was FULL today for the “Father & Son” retreat for Columbus High School nearby. I was serving with “Book,” which means a lot to do, but I did alright. The homily was, not surprisingly, about the relationship between Father and Son (with a “clay ashtray“).
NIGHT PRAYER — baseball hats – lost a seminarian today [J]
Divine Mercy Mass
MASS — today, the Miami seminarians were asked to serve/join Miami Auxiliary Bishop Estevez’s Mass for the spanish Divine Mercy Conference going on this weekend including some Sisters from Polish Saint Faustina’s order. A beautiful service. — I left my camera phone in my room … the pictures would have been nice.
Serra Club dinner
Tonight, 13 of us Miami seminarians helped the Serra Club fundraising dinner near Coral Gables. Fr Vallee and Chef Ramon cooked a dynamic 2 course meal with desert for $$$ per plate. Auxiliary Bishop Noonan and Vocations Director Fr Manny were present to thank all who gave toward the funding efforts for the new Pre-Theology housing that the seminary recently purchased. We helped with parking (in the rain), serving food, cleaning, washing dishes, drying dishes and ate some “costly food.” — Lots of work … and lots of fun … brotherhood in action!
Fr Omar + icons
Tonight, instead of a “Rector’s Conference,” we had an “Academic Conference” presentation by Fr Omar about religious icons & iconography. A great insight into the background and creation of icons with various samples to see. We’re currently studying them in “Arts & Ideas” with Fr Vallee, where we’ll need to write a 3-5 page reflection paper on an icon of our choosing. — I should start looking.
DOTS — Spanish vocab quiz — salmon burger — “Black Hawk Down”
sister visit
SPANISH – (Dr Jimenez) — I don’t know how I got an 88% on the chapter 12 test, but I’ll take whatever I can get to keep my head above aqua.
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — we reviewed previous material and covered Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy.
SISTER VISIT — since my sister was in town visiting, she came by the seminary and spent time with all the seminarians for Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Dinner (“Savannah, Georgia Night“). Coldstone’s Ice Creamery for desert!
Miami bowls
After our retreat ended with morning Mass, the “Miami guys” had an outing to the Dolphin Mall. We ate dinner, went bowling and hung out. — great time (I actually bowled a 149)
Navy SEALs retreat
Today’s silent retreat was led by Fr Peter, a Dominican priest from the New England area. Using the analogy that seminary training is like Navy SEAL training, we had 5 sessions, each highlighting essential aspects of the priesthood.
1. Holy Eucharist is the center of our lives.
2. Virtues of “generosity & self-sacrifice” are essential for true “fatherhood.”
3. Virtue of “truthfulness” must be lived and preached.
4. “The sanctity & dignity of human life” must be preached, especially now.
5. Our prayer life should include (1) the Blessed Sacrament and (2) a devotion to Mary.
break over + retreat begins
Tonight, I’m back in seminary … mid-semester break is over. Tonight, we also begin a 3-day silent retreat until Sunday morning Mass. Compline (night prayer) @ 10pm … got to go! — Be holy!
St Bonaventure Catholic Church in Davie or Weston, FL
Today, on mid-semester break, I went to St Bonaventure Catholic Church to pray in their chapel. I caught the end of their school childrens’ Mass with lively music (like “South to the NORTH!”) and a presentation for “Hispanic Heritage Month.” — nice Mass, but I didn’t recognize the Eucharistic Prayer for concecration … there must be a “children’s liturgy” I don’t know about.
After asking 3 people, I finally found the chapel for a holy hour. Very spacious, beautiful altar, stained glass and a side area with Mary & candles.
Bishop funeral @ Cathedral
Today was the funeral Mass for Archbishop Ambrose Battista De Paoli, Priest of the Archdiocese of Miami and Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, at St Mary’s Cathedral. A beautiful Mass with bishop from the Vatican, pastors & priest (local & from abroad), religious and more.
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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