Man's Best Friend

Yes, there are some pet owners that do go a bit overboard in their treatment of four-legged friends. I too shudder when I see cats in strollers or dogs in handbags. It is terribly obnoxious to hear people "baby-talk" with their "pwecious wittle Foo Foo".

That being said, I do think dogs, cats, fish, and birds can all be enjoyed as sources of companionship. Nothing makes us more human than when we are taking care of another human person. In a similar way, when we are responsible for and take care of one of God's little furry creatures, we can become more compassionate human beings.

Being with our pets, however, does not mean we should neglect our neighbors and those actual people who are in great need of human companionship. (Stop in any nursing home and you'll soon experience the desires for basic human interaction). Rather, having a pet should make us aware of how much we are responsible for the care of others, especially other humans.

Whenever we spend time with "man's best friend," let us remember that poochie is simply preparing us to go out, encounter others, touch lives, and become a "best friend to [actual] man".

And now, a picture of my dog, Mr. Barky:

Week of Service, Week of Hope

During the last week of July, I had the incredible privilege to work with more than 70 middle-school and high-school aged students during our parish's annual "Week of Service, Week of Hope". 

           Throughout that week, the students volunteered at different sites around the community, including a soup kitchen, summer camp, nursing home, homeless shelter, and a living center for single mothers and their children. 

Our official "Week of Service" t-shirt.

            With great enthusiasm and love, our students brought the hope of the Gospel with them wherever they served! Their energy and willingness to help others was inspiring. Along with participating at various ministry sites, each student also prayerfully reflected on his or her experience.

We also challenged the students to see the face of Christ in all those they encountered. Everybody, most especially the poor, the lowly, and the vulnerable, are living images of the Lord!

            Pope Francis calls us to build up a "culture of encounter," one in which we generously reach out to others in order to share the love and mercy of God.  This "Week of Service" did precisely that! 

Wisdom from Mother Teresa

September 5th marks the Feast Day of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, known the world over as Mother Teresa. Here are just a few pearls of wisdom from this beautiful soul:

"God still loves the world and He sends you and me to be His love and His compassion to the poor."

"The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway."

"If we really want to love, we must learn to forgive."

"Peace begins with a smile."

"If you can't feed a hundred people, just feed one."

"Love begins by taking care of the closest ones - the ones at home."

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

Live from St. Mary's Seminary

I have been here at St. Mary's Seminary in the Roland Park section of Baltimore, Maryland for over a week. Now, after a week of orientation, socializing, prayer, and retreat, we finally have some downtime...an excellent time to scribble a quick blog-post!

There has been a lot of information thrown at us in a brief amount of time; I am hoping some of it sticks! Overall, the main purpose of the seminary is to help in the spiritual, intellectual, human, and ministerial formation of men who are discerning priesthood.

Mary, Seat of Wisdom

The seminary is an integrative environment, one in which we hope to grow into our identities as potential priestly ministers. One of the great role models for us seminarians (and all Christians, too) is Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The Blessed Virgin Mary was open to God's call and responded with great generosity. She wrestled in her heart with the mysteries of her Son. And Mary was there at the foot of the Cross as her Son suffered. With such devotion came the eventual consolation of the Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit!

We honor Jesus' Mother here at the seminary with the title of "Seat of Wisdom." It was from this "seat" that Jesus, Who is Wisdom itself, was born and raised and became man. May we all be open to the Wisdom of Christ and the example of His Mother, Mary, the Seat of Wisdom!

Patron of Priests

Last Monday marked an important feast day for all priests and for those of us studying for priesthood as seminarians. August 4th marks the feast day of Saint John Vianney (1786-1859), a French parish priest known affectionately as the "Cure d'Ars".

St. John Vianney worked tirelessly as a pastor and spiritual guide for his people in the parish of Ars in France. While the saintly priest would have preferred to spend his life in quiet prayer and contemplation, the bishop knew that the people of Ars would benefit deeply from the spiritual and pastoral gifts of St. John Vianney.

Among these gifts was Vianney's presence in the confessional; the saint made himself available to hear the confessions of many people. The Cure d'Ars spent somewhere between 12 to 16 hours a day in the confessional!

Incorrupt body of St. John Vianney 

St. John Vianney was also known for his acts of charity and mortification on behalf of the people of Ars, those he lovingly served as pastor.

Celebrating the feast of this patron saint for priests has reminded me of those many holy men who have been role models and examples for me as they live out their priestly vocation:

-I think of Bishop Joseph's inspiring pastoral vision; I think of the guidance offered to me by Fr. Don and Monsignor David.

-I have been blessed to know priests like Frs. Paul, Mike, Joe, and Jerry, all of whom have showed me how to love the People of God in their care.

-I think of Fr. Dick and Fr. Bob, how they were both very much in tune with the movement of the Holy Spirit and directed me to see the Spirit in my life.

-And I recall priests like Fr. Dan and Monsignor Michael, brilliant theologians who gave me a vocabulary to think and speak about God and our relationship with Him.

Cure d'Ars

There are many other priests whom the Lord has put into my life at various points. These priests have served as guides, as friends, and as spiritual fathers. It is with great gratitude that I thank God for these men and ask St. John Vianney to intercede for them. It is my prayer that one day, I can be counted among this great lot of men, that I may humbly serve as a parish priest and be an icon of Christ for others!

St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us.

Vacation

"Vacation. All I ever wanted. Vacation. Had to get away."

I always connect the summer months with vacation. I've been in school for so long that I take for granted that I will have the summer months off!

While traveling to a beach or some other tourist destination is always fun, I think the main purposes of a vacation ought to be rejuvenation, relaxation, and re-connection. Whether traveling far or staying home for a "stay-cation," we need to take some time to stop, refrain from working, and just rest for awhile.

In general, it seems that we are working too much too long for too hard. Try, if you can, to take a break. Rest easy. Rediscover what it is that inspires you, that sustains you, and that gives your life purpose and meaning!

The Gentle Mastery of Christ

Jesus said:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

(Matthew 11:28-30)