Archive
Brooklyn Bishop at St Mark’s Parish
MASS — today at St Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church (in Southwest Ranches, FL), a visiting friend of Fr Whyte presided the Mass. Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros of the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated Mass. Even though the Deacon did a good homily, I wish the Bishop shared his wisdom over the readings. There was also a long announcement encouraging involvement in ministries, especially Religious Education. The Bishop supplemented both talks with great insight into tapping into our Baptism to be instruments of the Holy Spirit evangelizing wherever we can. Catechesis is a critical part of our faith that we should all be involved in … whether on the receiving end to grow in our intimacy of our faith or the giving end as catechists to our own families or to others. He also shared gratitude for the parish to having the weekly tradition of families taking home a Vocation Cup to pray for the response to God call in all our lives, whether it be priesthood, the religious life, or marriage. He’s a very personable and holy man.
spiritual awareness + God alone suffices
MASS – (Fr Vallee) — No prophet is accepted in his home … Fr Omar laugh … Spirituality is about awareness … stay awake!
HOLY HOUR – (Fr Michael) — “God alone suffices”
So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you. Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. To him be dominion forever. Amen. — 1Peter 5:6-11
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!
be a “good” finder
MASS – (Fr Michael) — We need to be transformed and renewed to have the mind of Christ. Seminary life can get frustrating, especially living here with 60+ guys. We can get caught up in the complaint and “tearing down” our brothers in Christ. Instead … we need to diligently “build up” our brothers and be “good finders” to encourage others, sometimes even to acknowledge the blessings and graces we see with words of encouragement. — assignment: each day this week, be a “good finder” to my brothers
mumbo jumbo + find myself
MASS – (Fr Santos) — in seminary, sometime our discernment process can be challenging enough to even “feel formation.” Studying philosophy can seem like a lot of mumbo jumbo. But … Consider this is something God wants you to do, leading us to the person God wants us to become. — the growing pains of formation while discerning my vocation
don’t be an armadillo + move!
MASS – (Fr Alvarez) — [told story of bladder cancer] We see lots of dead armadillos on the side of the road here in Florida. Why? Armadillos are blind and role up into their hard shells when they hear danger approaching … thus, the traffic incidents. As we grow in anything in life, challenges to leave our comfort zone can bring fear that can paralyze us from moving forward to something even greater, if we keep going. The formation process in seminary discernment presents challenges to ourselves that need to be faced and embraced … but with prayer and perseverance … not fear … don’t be an armadillo! — I’ll try
Mark + Good News + St Francis
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — today is the feast of St Mark the Evangelist. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the apostles, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned…”
[wine silo]
When we preach, we need to find the Good News for other, not just talk at people with facts and research, but truely connect to make Christ alive through our actions and witness. As St Francis said, “Preach the Gospel to others … if necessary use words.”
Voltron homily
MASS – (Fr Santos) — today’s homily mentioned Father’s favorite anime cartoon growing up (and mine) as Voltron, Defender of the Universe. He followed with a story about a child that thought he could fly … and even tried “flying” out the second floor window … caught by his father working in the garden below … but the father got more hurt than the son he sacrificed for … a great connection to how complete our Heavenly Father’s love is for us … “God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life” — John 3:16
— plus, any mention of Voltron in a Mass homily is worth noting … lol
where’s Heaven?
A thoughtful closing to Pope Benedict’s 2007 homily at Midnight Mass (reposted by Fr Stephanos, OSB on his blog Me Monk Me Meander).
In the stable at Bethlehem, Heaven and Earth meet. … Just as the sinner is called ‘Earth’, so by contrast the just man can be called ‘Heaven'” (Sermo in monte II 5, 17). Heaven does not belong to the geography of space, but to the geography of the heart. And the heart of God, during the Holy Night, stooped down to the stable: the humility of God is Heaven. And if we approach this humility, then we touch Heaven. Then the Earth too is made new. With the humility of the shepherds, let us set out, during this Holy Night, towards the Child in the stable! Let us touch God’s humility, God’s heart! Then his joy will touch us and will make the world more radiant. Amen.
Buddah + Big Dog + sacristy
MASS – (Fr Vallee) — Today’s Gospel shows how critics saw John the Baptist as crazy and Jesus as a “glutton and a drunkard.” You can’t please everyone all the time. It’s what God thinks of you that matters … not anyone else. Some key phrases … “It’s easier to wear slippers than to carpet the whole world.” & “If you meet Buddah in the road, kill him.”
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — continued Descartes. I think [of other] therefore I am.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — watched a story video on Socrates. Finished “Crito”
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — pgs 17-23. “Forms.” Icons (windows) vs Idols (the end).
WORKLIST & HOLY HOUR — for worklist, I cleaned the sanctuary & mopped the sacristy & some pews in the Chapel. For Holy Hour, Fr Alvarez told a story of “the Big Dog.” (Chris-notes🙂 Big dog was in control of everything except his wagging tail — tried to catch it & control it — little dog gave advice from experience — if you stay focused forward, everything else will follow. — so it is if we focus on Christ.
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 
Recent Comments