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Pope, drugs & Brazil
I read an article in the Miami Herald today on Pope Benedict XVI in Brazil saying “Drug dealers face God’s wrath”on the front page. Americans (especially non-believers) must see that (like I did) and say “Duh! — the Pope just discovered drugs are bad?” I think it’s because most Americans forget how many Latin American countries have government officials so influenced by drug dealers (like special interests in our country), that they’ve been numbed to any promises of changes. A fresh outside voice may jump-start the hard work that needs to be done to bring healing. With nearly half of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics in Latin America, the churches are experiencing an “exodus” of the faithful, like in Europe:
”People only go to church to ask for a favor, and when they get it, they go away.” …”People don’t know what church they belong to anymore, and they’re trying out everything.”
Surveys show that although Brazil remains the world’s largest Roman Catholic country, Catholics are now only 64% of the population, down from 89% in 1980. Those calling themselves evangelical Protestants rose to 15% from 7%.
What’s going on? I can’t say I’m surprised about the numbers. What’s always surprised me is how most Latin Americans can be Catholic in the first place. They have such an extremely patriarchal culture, where woman are expected to ignore “modesty” and ignore their men’s extra-extramarital affairs as a by-product of being over-sexualized. I understand that our response to our Catholic faith differs dependent on our culture, but this kind of culture make Catholicism so superficial that it justify the exodus. I hope and pray that the Latin American and Caribbean bishops’ conference finds some practical ways to awaken a “purified” fruitful response, and not just a paper mission statement. If they don’t, ministry to Latin Americans, especially in south Florida, will continue to be an uphill battle that the church can’t ignore.
Kermit? Anyone?
Priest Ordination Today
Today, I was at the Cathedral for the ordination of 4 new priest to the Archdiocese of Miami. It was AWESOME! Since I’ve never been to one, I thought it would just be a long Mass with the Archbishop and lots of people that I’ve never met before. Well, it was all of that, but way cooler! The organ music, choir, 150+ priests, layout of the Mass, the applause, the families, the … EVERYTHING was a emotion-filled worship experience that can’t be put into words. It was surreal. I didn’t feel worthy to sit in the 5th pew (behind immediate family with other seminarians) to participate in such a celebration with all those priest and faithful united in the Eucharist. I especially liked Archbishop’s homily and how each of the 150+ priest laid hands in prayer on each new priest followed by a hug. It was powerful!
Psychological Test Results
Today I got the results of my psychological testing (part of my seminary application). It involved a full battery of tests (2 full days of 7 types). I was a bit excited to get the results, but not as excited as I know a few friends of mine are. They’ve been waiting for empirical evidence of everything that’s wrong with me for years. Well, he started by saying I did very well, so I think I passed. — HA HA to all you haters! 🙂
The psychologist basically read my report out loud and answered questions about it. I didn’t feel comfortable hearing him read back my interview responses (my blog must really sound bad to readers). I forgot the names of most of the tests and can’t remember most of what he said, but I did manage to jot down 2 test results that I recognized.
My IQ test came out “above average” with 118. Not to sound vane, but it sounded low. I think it’s on a scale from 0 to 200 (with average being 100) and I have an engineering degree. Well OK, getting a engineering degree and changing to pursue the priesthood sounds pretty dumb, but give me a break, I took the test at 8am and I’m not a morning person. Then when he detailed my highs & lows I knew the test was flawed. I was high in “vocabulary” and low was in “mental calculations & memory.” That’s not right! My memory may “blow,” but vocabulary is not my thing. I was also high in “picture arrangement,” but low in “picture completion.” What does that mean? So, if the priesthood doesn’t work out, I can be a Feng shui designer that never finishes a job. All in all, I guess I don’t have a learning disability and ADD, so if I flunk any classes, I’ve got nobody to blame but me.
The second test I remember was the Myers-Briggs personality test. I came up as a ISFJ which is supposed to be the following:
ISFJ = Quiet, friendly, responsible, and conscientious. Work devotedly to meet their obligations. Lend stability to any project or group. Thorough and painstaking, accurate. Their interests are usually not technical. Can be patient with necessary details. Loyal, considerate, perceptive, concerned with how other people feel. Likely to put others needs above own and take responsibility seriously. Can be extremely uncomfortable with conflict or confrontation.
It sounds like I’m a big “sucker” that everyone walks all over. Then I found ISFJs, according to Keirsey, belong to the temperament of the Guardians and are called Protectors and that sounded a lot cooler.
Guardians are observant and cooperative. Protectors, Inspectors, Supervisors, and Providers are the role variants contained within this category. Guardians seek membership or belonging and are concerned with responsibility and duty. Their greatest strength is logistical intelligence. They excel at organizing, facilitating, checking, and supporting.
Some famous people who are “protectors” include Jimmy Stewart, Mother Teresa, J. P. Morgan, Tsar Nicholas II, & George H. W. Bush.
I guess knowing who myself better from a psychological view helps me to appreciate strengths and weaknesses to better balance everything. As I write this blog, I wonder if I’m giving too much information about myself and being an even bigger “sucker.” — Kermit? Anyone?
Orthodoxy, part 2
One of my reservations about the seminary is the strong emphasis on Philosophy. I’ve only had 1 intro class on it and it seems more confusingly “open-minded” that threatens a truly strict “orthodoxy” (genuinely Catholic). I’ve spoken to a couple former seminarians who seemed very orthodox in their Catholic faith. They dropped out because the philosophy made them question everything they believed, and I think that is my fear. It’s been 20+ years since they were in seminary. I’ve been told that seminaries have changed their philosophy programs in the early 90’s and it’s not so rough. I hope so, but I’m still wondering what’s different.
I’ve been told philosophy teaches you how to think, to dissect ideas, and be objective. That sounds pretty good to me. But someone going into seminary with an uncompromising belief system (like neo-orthodoxy) may not be able to deal with it. The Church wants to form men who can “think” and “obey the magisterium (Church teaching authority)” in order to make orthodoxy true, and not just blindly enforced. Strict and blind adherence to an “orthodoxy” in anything questions it’s relevance and purpose in the first place.
Being a well-rounded seminarian is probably the ideal. To freely accept and evangelize something by objective thinkers should magnify it’s truth and effectiveness. I’d like to think I’m one of those guys. Kermit? anyone?
Am I orthodox enough?
I was looking for graphic ideas for a header, when I ran into a new seminarian’s blog, A Catholic Life. I especially was drawn to the purpose of his blog. He quoted the philosophy of a group dedicated to Catholic orthodoxy. I want to write a purpose so I don’t go off on too many tangents, but I don’t know if I can live up to those standards. I would like to think so.
I AM a seminarian!
Today I got the letter. — I’ve been accepted into the Archdiocese of Miami priestly formation program. I guess my psych results came back “negative” … or is that “positive” … whatever they are, they have been fully warned about me … and still let me in … (there must really be a priest shortage!)
Now I need to finish steps 7 thru 490. I still need a physical, blood work, background screening, a letter of recommendation from my pastor (Fr. Dalton), among other things. I also need to be at the new priest ordination next Saturday at the Cathedral. And (I don’t remember this mentioned at all) the following Monday thru Wednesday I need to go on a 3 day retreat called the Seminarians’ Convocation after celebrating Mass and having dinner with the Archbishop. Apparently, if I can do all that (and not explode), I can start the formation process (or be the Matrix Architect).
Cool. (— once it really hits me, I’ll probably have more to say.)
Kermit? any words?
Director says “blog OK”
After yesterday’s emailed question to the Vocations Director (if a blog would be OK to do), he wrote back that a blog could be a great way to communicate my vocational journey if done right. He acknowledged my concern about complications (from any Internet endeavor) that I’ll discuss with him soon. He mentioned the Vocations Office has a new blog for seminarian on the website that he hopes will grow.
I also found out the next monthly discernment group meeting (usually the first Tuesday of the month) would resume back up in September. That doesn’t sound right. I missed the last one, so I don’t know why. I didn’t think discernment takes a vacation (although we’d like it to, sometimes). Some of the newer guys seemed to just be getting comfortable enough to share & compare their own calls. I’ll pray for the group tonight.
DID: I spent most of the day replacing a door with my father. Watched The Office (Women’s Appreciation Day) — that show is getting a little too extreme for a TV comedy.
This blog may be a BAD idea?
The more I think about what I should write in a blog, the more I question if this is a good idea. Although the formation process is very personal (about my own individual experience), it involves the counsel and shared experiences of others (seminarians & priests). Most of life’s great experiences involve others, but seminary life seems unique.
I don’t want to compromise the “community life” of the seminary by others watching what they say to me (because it may get blogged). I take confidences very seriously and I think I would be responsible in keeping others out (for privacy), but it’s hard to establish that trust without time to build true relationships. I may also feel vulnerable that others (in seminary) would know what I am feeling before discovering issues they may have with me.
To top it all off, I should probably ask permission to even have a blog from the vocations director. There may be some parts of the application and/or formation process that are better left private. I emailed the Miami Vocations Director for suggestions. Am I just paranoid? WWKD ?
Am I a seminarian yet?
I’m starting this blog a little premature. I don’t even know if I’m in yet, as a seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary. If I’m accepted, I would be entering as Pre-Theology since I already have a BS degree. Since the application process seemed to go pretty well, I pray for the best.
In February, I turned in the application and a 9 page autobiography (actually 12 pages, but I dropped the line spacing to not exceed the 8-10 page requirement — I’ll mention that at confession next time). After that, my 3 independent interviews with priests on the vocation panel seemed to go well. My only remaining concern was the results of the 3 days of psychological testing. If there was nothing wrong with me before the testing, I’m sure they’ll find some PTSD from the application process or maybe something I can’t even have, like Munchausen by Proxy (it just sounds cool). Those pictures I was asked to draw can’t mean anything good. 🙂
The committee met at the end of April and I’m just waiting to hear the results. Since the Archbishop came to do Confirmation at my parish last Saturday, I went hoping to introduce myself and get a hint, but that didn’t happen. I’d have a better chance to meet the President than to speak to Archbishop Favalora during a overflowing Confirmation Mass. (It’s these moments that I question my own judgement.)
WWKD ? … probably “Be patience (not so) young patowon.” — (“yeah, yeah, I know.”)
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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