Liga Orante
MASS — Fr Manny Alvarez, our Miami Vocations Director, celebrated Mass with a Spanish diocesen ministry called “Liga Orante,” who prays for vocations everyday. We only get to see them a couple times a year, but it’s always a joy to see our spiritual support team face to face. — Thank you and God bless!
Christmas Mass + dinner
CELEBRATION — tonight was our Christmas Mass & dinner with faculty and staff.
Great time with great people!
The ham was great, too.
And the desserts were good.
And some of the centerpieces caught fire.
And there was wine.
Did I mention the ham was great?
I sat with “Sammy Davis Jr.”
Great time with great people!
[homily started with “Picture comparison” magazine game]
graduate graces
NIGHT PRAYER — our seminary rector asked each class to have their own Night Prayer this week with group reflection on the graces that we’ve been blessed with. Tonight was the graduating class (Seniors + Pre-Theology year 2) in the McCarthy House Chapel. It wasn’t only great to express thanksgiving for graces I’ve noticed (especially in my 2nd year of formation), but to hear the graces that others have noticed helps me to recognize other graces that I’ve also received, but unable to “name” or appreciate. It was yet another grace-filled event in seminary.
Thank you, God bless you, and be holy!
DOTS — “Evangelicals” club @ World Religion class … graces of sacraments @ Pre-Theology seminary … gato y abuela @ dinner … freshly baked cookies afternoon + evening
Equadorian food night
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — tonight was food from Equador. Good eatin’
Syro-Malabar Qurbana Mass
MASS — in our appreciation of other Catholic Rites, today we celebrated Qurbana (Mass) in the tradition of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, which our own Fr Joseph was ordained in. The servers have more reading parts, the priest face away from the people during consecration, we stand through most of Mass, and shaking hands is different (two hands together, like prayer, with a bow). A great experience in appreciation of our diverse yet universal Catholic Church.
Jeopardy + Charades @ CCD
CCD — tonight, in 10th grade Confirmation class, we played Jeopardy and Charades to review for their mid-term test before Christmas break. Lots of fun and lots of review!
Here are some of the “answers” … what are the “questions”?
catagory: FIRST DAY FAITH QUIZ
1. THE NAME OF THE FIRST POPE
2. THE STORY OF CREATION IS IN THIS BIBLE BOOK
3. MARY’S COUSIN
4. THE NAMES OF ALL THE GOSPEL BOOKS
5. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAVED ON THE ARK
6. THIS APOSTLE WAS A TAX COLLECTOR
7. THE MEANING OF “CATHOLIC”
8. THE NAME OF ABRAHAM’S SON
9. ON THIS DAY, WE CELEBRATE THE SCURGING, CRUCIFIXION & DEATH OF JESUS
10. THESE ARE THE 2 TYPES OF SINS
category: CHAPTER 1 (of our text book)
1. GOD REVEALING HIMSELF TO US
2. COMMUNICATING WITH GOD
3. HEBREWS 11:1 SAYS IT IS “BEING SURE OF WHAT YOU HOPE FOR AND CERTAIN OF WHAT YOU DO NOT SEE”
4. THE PART OF THE BIBLE THAT FOCUSES ON THE FAITH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD & THE ISRAELITES
5. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE SPECIAL GUIDANCE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE HUMAN AUTHORS OF THE BIBLE
category: PHONE CALLS (prayer)
1. GUESTURE MADE BY CATHOLICS AT THE BEGINNING & END OF PRAYERS
2. THE MEANING OF THE WORD ” AMEN ”
3. THE NUMBER OF DECADES (10) ON A ROSARY
4. IN THE LORD’S PRAYER, THE MEANING OF “HALLOWED”
5. THE NAME OF THIS PRAYER STYLE COMES FROM A LATIN WORD MEANING “CROWN OF ROSES”
category: FAMOUS CATHOLICS
1. THE CURRENT POPE
2. THE ONLY CATHOLIC U.S. PRESIDENT
3. WRITER OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS BOOK SERIES
4. THE VOICE OF “THE GOVERNATOR”, AN H1, FROM THE ANIMATED MOVIE “CARS” (2006)
5. RAPPER, MODEL, & ACTOR IN “THE ITALIAN JOB”
category: PHONE (prayer) TYPES
1. GRATITUDE FOR WHAT HE DOES
2. THE CREATED BEFORE THE CREATOR, USUALLY IN FRONT OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
3. ASKING GOD FOR MYSELF
4. GLORIFYING GOD FOR WHO HE IS
5. TUNING INTO GOD
Qurbana practice
WORLD RELIGION — tomorrow we’re celebrating Mass in the Syro-Malabar tradition that Fr Joseph was ordained in. In order for all of us to better appreciate the rite, our World Religion class practiced with him to help the rest of the seminary house to be ready tomorrow. — It’d be different, but it’s exciting!
volleyball basketball
SPORTS NIGHT — another awesome Tuesday with volleyball & basketball. I get so excited about volleyball, that I forget to take any pictures. Maybe next time.
BLOG STATUS — this is actually my first post this month. In some extra personal effort to get more engaged in seminary life by staying diligent to my “goals,” especially a Holy Hour everyday, I haven’t had much time to even download my pictures from my cellphone. Yesterday, with the extension of 2 paper due dates, it gave me some breathing room to get some posts ready (I’ll be backdating them). — Thank you for all your prayers and support! God bless & be holy.
Colombian food night
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — Tonight was Colombian food night. I forgot what everything was named, but it was all good, especially the dessert of banana in sweet orange sauce. Also showed some videos about Colombia … first one is sweet … second one is funny with lots of movie clips involving Colombia … check them out.
Colombia is Passion
Colombia: Are you willing to take the risk? (funny)
Pjanoo + SJVCS music video
I found this song a couple weeks ago and every time I listen to it, I picture a music video of seminary life here at St John Vianney College Seminary. It’s like a flying video camera visiting dormlife, meals, Mass, communal prayer, sports, fellowship, studies, staff, manual labor, social trips and the beautiful grounds. It changes each time I listen, but the only thing that doesn’t change is the elevation of the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance by Fr Michael (rector) during our Wednesday Holy Hours … that happened at the 4 minute mark in the song. I just had to post it … it keeps me focused!
This is “Pjanoo” (Original Mix) by Eric Prydz. Enjoy and be holy!
Adoration + “my life prayer”
HOLY HOUR – (Fr Michael) — for my communal Holy Hour (adoration of Blessed Sacrament), I usually start personal pray with the “Litany of the Blessed Sacrament.” Afterwards, I felt drawn to find another prayer in my “St Joseph People’s Prayer Book” that was more personal. I found …
[#366] Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
My Jesus,
I thank You for having bestowed on me so many graces:
for having created me,
redeemed me by Your Blood,
made me a Christian by the Sacrament of Baptism,
and borne with me for so long
when I was under Your displeasure.
How unhappy should I be
if I had died in the state of mortal sin!
I should now be lost forever, O my God,
and I could no longer love You.
I thank You
for having pardoned me in Your mercy,
as I confidently hope.
I thank You especially
for having remained with us in the Blessed Sacrament,
for giving Yourself so often to me in Holy Communion,
becoming my food,
and for admitting me now into Your presence.
I thank You for all these favors,
and I hope one day to thank You more perfectly for them in heaven,
and to celebrate without ceasing Your ineffable mercy for all eternity.
AMEN.
I like the prayer, but like with most written prayers, I want to change some words or add my own. I think I’m going to keep revising this prayer to slowly create a unique “My Life Prayer” that can help me come before the Blessed Sacrament in my own Holy Hours. I’ll try to post as I do. God bless & be holy!
worklist makak
WORKLIST (manual labor) — Cool weather was nice. Busy day today with lots of palm branches to pick up. Also found some proud weed-pullers. I also caught my golf-cart partner Manuel swinging from a palm branch like a makak (Creole for “monkey”). — Holy labor!
tap water + faith
MASS – (Fr Vallee) — today’s homily was a dream about all of us seminarians getting Baptized in our Reflection Pond (it’s pretty cold today) … healing all our vices and imperfections. However, the Archangel Raphael (upper right side of our chapel mural) came to life to say: “with enough faith, even tap water can heal.” — Great message … inspired … Fr Vallee 🙂 … a permanent holy memory!
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. 🙂
Armin van Buuren – Birth of an Angel (song)
Last night I had an awesome Holy Hour. Half way in, a trance tune got stuck in my head. This morning, I ran across this awesome song … I’d like to think this was the one. Armin van Buuren’s “Birth of an Angel“ … jump ahead to about 4 minutes … that’s when it gets really good! This is trance music at it’s best!!
CCD: Saints + Rosary
CCD — For apostalic work (10th grade Confirmation religious education), we continued on the Rosary, reviewed the Mysteries, prayed the Joyful Mysteries, discussed All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, Purgatory and debated “only saints go to heaven.” — next week they’re doing saint reports & presentations!
priestly advice
MASS – (Fr Santos) — Fr Santos shared some words of wisdom from a Spiritual Director he had in seminary. When you become a priest, (1) travel light, (2) love deeply & learn detachment, and (3) keep your priorities in sight. Simple, yet profound and practical. — this made for some great discussion at brunch!
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!
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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