June 30, 2005 (Thursday)
Meet Deacon Mike Maples at St. Patricks so that I could ride with him to the Cathedral in Knoxville to attend the practice for the upcoming ordination. After the practice a supper was served to us, and then I left with Deacon Tony Dickerson to spend the night at the Diocese's largest church All Saints in Knoxville. All Saints has a lot of land and they seem to be having something going on all the time. Before going to bed I watched CSI with the priests that stay there and with Deacon Tony.
June 29, 2005 (Wednesday)
Today I had my Communion Service witht he high schoolers in honor of Saints Peter and Paul. The twins did not get to make it, but Meredith did. The first thing we did was bring the Eucharist to a parishoners home, then we did a a meals on wheels route, ate some pizza at Pizza Inn, and then worked at an older couples house doing yard work. Meredith got to see the bulltin board with her great picture that was taken with an apple. I was asked by Father Joe to help a priest who will be filling in at our Spanish Mass on Sunday. It should be fun serving a Mass completly in Spanish.
June 28, 2005 (Tuesday)
I need a good rest because I did not want to wake up for Mass, but I did. After Mass I worked with my mother to change the bullitin boards in the church. I even got to make my own where I added all the great pictures of the high schoolers eating. Next it was off to Jonesborough because my sister's girl scouts where having there Court of Awards. When I got back home Deacon Mike called and told me I could ride with him to Knoxville on Thursday. Tommorrow I will be working with the high schoolers, so I will keep you posted on all that we do. Hopefully we will not have any acidents like last week.
June 27, 2005 (Monday)
Attendence was up for my Monday Morning Communion Service. It looks like the word of having something at the church on Mondays is starting to spread. My mom and my sister went to work at the house in Jonesborough today, but I stayed at home and took it easy. Got a call from Deacon Mike giving me the information that I needed about this Friday's Ordination.
June 26, 2005 (Sunday)
Kept busy at the two masses today. I was lector for the 8am and an alter server for the 11am. After mass went to Jonesborough to work on the old house, and then I visited my grandfather in the nursing home. Spent the night working on my site giving it the new look that you now see. I hope everyone likes it better than the last design.
June 25, 2005 (Saturday)
Went to Doe River Gorge with the church's high school and middle school group. We had a total of 17 people who went with us, and I beleive everyone had a great time. Doe River Gorge has a lake with a zipline 75 feet up that plunges you into the water, an object called the Blob where one person jumps on it sending the person on the end up into the air and into the water. The zipline was the best part and I went off of it 3 times making sure that I did it upside down.
June 24, 2005 (Friday)
Today is the Nativity of John the Baptist which started with Daily Mass, seeing my grandfather in the nursing home, working at the house in Jonesborough, and finishing it off with a great meal from Phats. At Phats I ran into Matt and his family and told him that he should come to the High School's Servie project that is going on threw the summer. Tommorrow I will be gone all day to Doe Rive Gorge with the High School and Middle School Youth. I will fill you in about the place more tommorrow.
June 23, 2005 (Thursday)
Went to morning Mass and was invited to go out and eat breakfast by Karen. Father Jim and my mother also came with us, and we made a few stops before we got something to eat. Lowe's was first to get a replacement for the peice that broke on Victoria, Wal-Mart was next to get my mother's pictures from the 24 development where I seen a former classmate of mine, and last it was off to get some lightbulbs. After doing everything that needed to be done we stoped to get breakfast at the Waffle House. The last part of the day was spent working on the house in Jonesbourough. Tommorrow will be the nativity of John the Baptist, so make sure to make it to Daily Mass.
June 22, 2005 (Wednesday)
It was a fun day working the high schoolers with their community service. I kicked the day off with a Communion Service where I had Kelly be my reader. It is great to have the Eucharist available to start off our day and it will also help to bond us together. Our Youth House was hit up by the Jahova Witnesses and there Watch Tower Magazine. We took the magazine and put it in Fathers door so he would think they came to bother him to. For the work for the day the boys went to help some elderly people set up for a yard sale while the girls cleaned the Resource Center and the Youth House. We came back together to eat PaPa John's Pizza and then we all worked together on the Youth House and cleaning the church van. After the day was over I was sitting at a table with Victoria and Sarah and the dish that goes on the light feel because it was not put back on tight enough. The glass object feel onto Victoria's hands shattering everywhere. One of her hands was cut quite a bit along with her arm and legs.
June 21, 2005 (Tuesday)
I have uploaded pictures from the night that we gave Stephanie her going away party. Today was started off with Mass and after Mass I asked Father if I could do Communion Services on Wednesdays for the High Schoolers who will be at the church doing service work from 9am-3pm every Wednesday. He told me I could do them, so I am finally at receiving Communion every day. After Mass we went back to Jonesborough to do more work on the old house and after that the family played a few games of Scrable together.
June 20, 2005 (Monday)
I have uploaded the pictures from Day Camp to my site, so check them out when you get the chance. I really hate uploading them with 56K because it takes forever. My first Monday Communion Serive was held today, but the attendance was only 3. I think next Monday will have more people its just that no one ever got the chance to catch word that I was doing them. Later in the day I went to Jonesborough where I loaded up a book shelf and some books to take back to Greeneville with me.
June 19, 2005 (Sunday)
Spent Father's Day with my dad and with Father Jim. A group of 20 from our church went to the Dixie Stampede to celebrate this great day. This has been my first trip to the show in a long time, so everything was new to me. The show's seating is divided into two sections the north and the south. The show takes people from the audiance to represent the sides along with a few shows to go along with it. We got them to pick Father Jim for an event which he ended up losing. In his event he had to play horseshoes with a tolit seat. The north ended up beating the south, but we had a good time even though our side lost.
June 18, 2005 (Saturday)
Slept in today like I wanted. When I got up it was time to go to Jonesborough to work on the old house. When the last big rain came threw it caused the basement to leak, so everything downstairs is nasty and wet. After finishing with the house it was off to the 5pm Mass. There were many visiting faces at church today. I meet one family who prayed the Liturgy of the Hours together and seemed like their faith and knowledge of the church was very strong. Tommorrow we are taking Father Jim out to Dixie Stampede which should be a very interesting trip.
June 17, 2005 (Friday)
It's finally over! Day camp has come to an end! I held the week's last communion service too where Victoria & Sarah where my readers again. The Day Camp was spent working with the kids on the climbing wall and then they went swimming for the rest of the day. I hope I can spend tommorrow catching up on all the sleep that I have lost this week. Also my Latin Missal is in, but my mom forgot it at the church offeces so I will hopefully get it tommorrow. Also, my mom said Jean has added me to the schedule to do communion services for the rest of the summer on Mondays. The work never ends, but it is my job to make sure communion is available to the people.
June 16, 2005 (Thursday)
My second Communion Service of the week was a sucess. Sarah and Victoria showed up so I made them be my readers and the did a great job. After the service was over we went to the park for Day 4 of Day Camp. Today we were not staying at the park, but taking a trip to a camp where the kids will spend the night. We started at the camp with a nature hike and a rope course. The day ended with a campfire where the groups gave their skits and songs. Only one more day left of both Day Camp and doing Communion Services.
June 15, 2005 (Wednesday)
It's hump day at day camp! The days are long and hot and I am ready to be done with it. Paul did not come to help us today, but Stephanie, Chris, and Laukaz showed up to do some work. Stephi got in trouble from the get go because she told one of the kinds that the strip which had ink on it which was for your fingerprints was actually for your lips. The wind picked up today and made thins better than last day which was way to hot. I forgot my swimming trunks, so I sat on the sideline during swimming. Stephi sat with me and we talked the time away. I have another communion service to do tommorrow, so hopefully the twins will make it this time.
June 14, 2005 (Tuesday)
Started the day off giving a Communion Servie at Notre Dame and then it was back to day camp. Today was a blazing hot day that was meserable. After a game of baseball and some fishing I was aided by Paul to help the scout build a catepult. The design was very simple, but it did what it was designed to do. Later that day I got to attend my first Denary Meeting in along time. It was great to see Linda and the crew again. We even had a little bit of representation from our church in Paul, Victoria, and Sarah. Right now I am watching game 3 of the NBA Finals. Go Spurs!
June 13, 2005 (Monday)
Cub Scout Day Camp started today and I helped out along with a few of the other members of the Venture Crew. I assisted Kelly with half of the Weblos group. It seemed that they were always being yelled at about something, but they where a good group who were acting there age and letting all of there energy out. They got to shoot BB guns, play Ultimate, learn about Hawaii, build a mobile, and go swimming. Tommorrow I will be giving a communion service at my church and then it will be off to Day Camp.
June 12, 2005 (Sunday)
Bight your tounge and do not let people bother you is very good advice. Today there was no one at Mass to be a Eucharistic Minister, so I was going to fill in, but I was told I was not dressed well enough to be one. Since when was blue jeans and a t-shirt bad for Notre Dame even our priest wears shors. Crazy old people that think they can control me I am studing to be a priest and I can do the job about as well as anyone. I follow the rules to a t and I make sure to keep eye contact even if it envolves getting on my knees to give communion to the kids. I do not think the Blessed Sacrament of the Alter is only for those who are well dressed. Christ is available for all even those who might be wearing jeans.
June 11, 2005 (Saturday)
We where up early to pray Morning Prayer and the be off for the ordination that took place at 11am. Before thing started I got some time to talk to the Dean of the Students Father Samual its great to see some people from Conception again. It is so wonderfull to see a man go threw this wonderfull event. They are truely giving a lot of things up to serve the lord. After the mass we had a reception and then it was off to serve the 5pm Mass back at Notre Dame. Looks like I will be doing communion serves next week, so I will keep you posted on how those go.
June 10, 2005 (Friday)
Headed to St. Patrick's Church in Morristown for a 5:30 practice for Tony's Ordination that will be tommorrow. I got to see my roomate from Conception again this being the first time since the end of the school year. After we finished practice we went to Chris' house for some food and stayed there for the night. The food was wonderfull and wow did they have a huge house.
June 9, 2005 (Thursday)
The last day of the convocation at Fall Creek Falls is finally over. If you do not know the word convocation it is from the Latin meaning coming together. Instead of morning prayer we had Mass together which was followed by a Diocese Business meeting. After the meeting I was saying my good-byes and giving my thanks to Bishop Kurtz for all that he has done for me. Friday I will be doing an ordination practice so I will not journalize again until Saturday night. I know I said this before my trip, but I thought the trip went until Friday.
June 8, 2005 (Wednesday)
More great food and more conferences filled the day. Was going to go for another walk up to the Fall, but a bad rain came threw, so I just went to sleep. After my three hour slumber I went to the chapel to pray my rosary and then we had mass. This wonderfull week is finally about over and I am very tired.
June 7, 2005 (Tuesday)
The breakfast was amazing! They had everything you could ever want on the buffet, and I did not have to pay for the food because the Diocese of Knoxville picked it all up. I am so thankfull for the Diocese giving me so much. The day was filled with prayer together and with more conferences on the topic of evangilization. After lunch there was a lot of free time, so I walked to the Fall with some of the priests from my Diocese. The Fall was very pretty, and was worth the 30minutes walk to get to it.
June 6, 2005 (Monday)
Started my day by giving a call to Stephanie before she leaves to return back to her home of Germany. Katie answered the phone and I finally got to talk to her again. This was the first time since I left for school. At 3:30pm I meet Father Joe at Notre Dame and we where picked up by another priest and then we headed off to Fall Creek Falls. It was so dark when we got in it was hard to see the park's beauty. After getting there I attended a Conference which started out with a funny joke about a dead bishop ending with the priest liking to here that the Bishop is dead. After the conference I got to check out my sleeping arrangements. I was put with my fellow seminarians in a cabin. The cabins where a good walk from the conference center, so I got in shape walking back and forth.
June 5, 2005 (Sunday)
Served at both masses today. The 8am I did by myself and I had a little bit of help at the 11am. After Mass I asked Alex if he would consider being an alter server and he told me yes. After the masses I headed to Jonesborough where I worked on my old house for awhile. On the way back home it was a stop at the local Wal-Mart for some grocieries and I got to see a few parishoners. After eating a great taco supper I went to the Knights of Columbus meeting. This is the first offical meeting of my home parish Knights that I have been able to make. Recently I started to strongly feel something about the Liturgy of the Hours, the Eucharist, and praying the rosary. When I pray or do these wonderfull aspects of the church I am joined with the whole world. I am joined by my felleow classmates of Conception, the priests of my Diocese, friends who are far away, and people that I have yet to meet. I have been told this for my whole time at Conception, but I am finally starting to feel the importance of being linked together with the world. I am always connected to my friends even if I am far away and cannot see them or speak to them. This will be my last entry until Saturday because I will be off on a priest retreat, so until I write again may Christ be with you.
June 4, 2005 (Saturday)
My freedom came to an end because my sister and mother where here waiting on me when I got back from 5pm Mass. The family then went out and ate some Chinese before returning home to play a game of Uno together. Right now I am watching the Eastern Finals between the Pistons and Heat, and things are not looking good for Miami. I am still cheering for them even though it looks like this will go to a game 7.
June 3, 2005 (Friday)
Walked to morning Mass today which was in memory of Aimee Conley. Today was also Sacred Heart of Jesus and I got to be the reader. Our chapel was packed today, and it seems like the Daily Mass crowd keeps growing larger. After Mass I went with Father Jim to Burger King for some breakfast and then we went to the grocery store to pick up a few grocieries. I cooked spagettii for super today and it turned out well. I better enjoy the rest of the day because my mother and sister will return tommorrow.
June 2, 2005 (Thursday)
Was a little rainy this morning, but not to bad. My dad did not work due to the rain, but I did walk to Mass this morning. As I was walking I was praying my newly made rosary until Dick pulled over to give me a ride to Mass. I was elected to be the reader today for what would be a huge reading. Father Jim told me to change the words from Raquel to Dick because it made reference to Edna who is married to Dick. After Mass Father Jim gave me a ride back home, but we had to stop at the Waffle House to grab some breakfast first. Got a call from mom later in the day, and she said the van was acting up on her. Hopefully everything will go well on her trip back home tommorrow.
June 1, 2005 (Wednesday)
The new month is finally here and what a great day of doing nothing I had. I woke up around 10:30 and then finished watching ALF season 1. The day was also rainy so my dad got out of work and got back here around 1:30. We then made a trip to Johnson City for some Japanese. The food was worth every cent it was great. After getting home I got a call from soon to be Deacon Tony Dickerson and he reminded me about the upcoming ordination on the 11th and that we will be practicing for it on the 10th. I told him that he can count on me to be there.