January 1, 2006 (Sunday)
A Happy New Year to everyone! I bet you are wondering when I will change the front page of this site and that will be next Sunday cause this PC is way to slow to mess with it right now. Our 8am Mass had a sad attendance of 44 and of course no one at the Mass wanting to do any of the jobs like always. The 11am Mass only had a little over 100 I wonders why the numbers are down so much. Did everyone party to much for bringing in 2006. Every Sunday Mass is a must espically this one which would have been a holy day if not for falling on a Sunday. After Mass I got ahold of the twins and they agreed to working at summer camp this summer with me. We will have our interview this Saturday at 12:30 and then after that I hope everything will go threw okay.
January 2, 2006 (Monday)
Spent most of the day at home. Went to Wal-Mart to drop off my film from the cave trip , so I can get the pictures later. After Wal-Mart I went to Jonesborough to eat some Mexican food and then returned home to watch some tv. Talked with Blaine and the twins and all three of them are still in on working at summer camp this year. Tommorrow morning I will finally get to attend daily Mass at Notre Dame again.
January 3, 2006 (Tuesday)
Had morning Mass at 8:30am and was EME for the Mass. After Mass went by Wal-Mart to pick up the pictures from the cave trip and got breakfast from Hardees. Later in the day I went back to church for RCIA where Father Jim was teaching on baptism. We had 7 people at the meeting who are hoping to be brought into the Catholic church at the Easter Vigil later this year.
January 4, 2006 (Wednesday)
Got a call from the church's secratary telling me to get to the church for lunch this morning. I went and ate with the rest of the church staff and Father Jim is doing really bad and has lost his voice, so I will be doing a communion service for him for tommorrow. We had a great attendence for high school CCD and we opened up with a new idea of opening with the upcoming Sunday's gospel reading and then doing a journal reflection upon the reading. It was very touching to see that all the kids took this to heart and actually quited down and wrote something. Also, I must note that Paul will be joining us for summer camp.
January 5, 2006 (Thursday)
This computer would not let me on last night, so I am writing this one on Friday the 6th. My day started off with a communion service which had a good attendance and then I spent the rest of the day doing much of nothing in the rectory. During the whole day a huge rabbit hung out around the rectory and it was amazing to see how tame he was. After I left the church I went home for supper and then went to Boy Scouts Round Table and the bit topic of the night was summer camp. It looks like this upcoming summer will be filled with improvements and I am happy to be part of the staff. I found this following saying on a bookmark and thought it was really good: "We shall not make ourselves holy unless we have a great desire to become so. Nothing great is achieved without desire. Desire is the wind that swells the sails and drives the ship along; it is the motor of the spiritual life." This was said by Ramiero Cantalamessa. I will not update again until Saturday night because I have a high school/middle school lock in to attend tonight.
January 6, 2006 (Friday)
The Lock in at the YMCA was a lot of fun and we had many people in attendence. The pool was open from 11pm-1am and Meredith took a dip in the pool thanks to Monica pushing her in. For most of the night I hung out with the high school group and we working on filming a few movies.
January 7, 2006 (Saturday)
I got a whole hour of rest during the Lock in. After things were over I got the chance to get another hour in before having to head to Johnson City for scout camp staff interviews. I first picked up the twins and then Paul and then we were off for the Cracker Barrel. At the Cracker Barrel I sung Happy Birthday to the twins seeing that their birthday is on the 10th and I will not be around to celebrate. The interviews went well and I will be chaplain and will teach merit badge, the twins get handycraft, Blaine gets COPE, and Paul gets to work in the trading post. After getting back home it was time to head off again for the 5pm Mass where I got to serve with the twins. It was a baptism at the Mass, so the church was packed. After Mass I said my goodbyes. I went to eat at Ryans with my family next and will soon finally get some sleep. I will journal again from school which is great cause I am tired of this computer.
January 8, 2006 (Sunday)
My great long break from school has finally come to an end. I got back into the world of CSC at 10pm on the dot. The flight to Kansas City went well and I had no delays along the way. Tommorrow will be crazy because I will not get any time to rest it will be straight back into classes. This semester I will be taking Western Civ II, Liturgical Music, Physical Science and Lab, Thomism, Interpersonal Behavior, and New Testament. It should be a challenging half of a year, but I am looking forward to it.
January 9, 2006 (Monday)
It was back to the usual routine of getting up at 7am. My first class of the day was philosophy with Father Issac. This class left me ready to not go back it is going to be very intense and we all know that Father Issac is crazy. The secong class of the day was Liturgical Music which should be a lot of fun. Next, is SBS which will be along the lines of last semester's class. My last class of the day is Western Civ II which I hope to finish the year with a A in. I will be getting up a little before 2am this morning, so I can get to Maryville by 2:30am to pick a true legend of this school BC up. He is coming in on the Greyhound and a few of us are going to be there to pick him up. Also, I must note I now have 15 pictures posted in a folder called Christmas Break 2006. I have uploaded pictures from helping with assisted living other pictures from my break will be coming in the days to come.
January 10, 2006 (Tuesday)
I start this journal off with a happy birthday to Sarah and Victoria. You girls are awesome! My alarm clock did not go off like planed, so I did not get to pick up BC. After morning Mass I ran into BC and talked him into attending New Testament with us. For lunch we went out for some Chinese and for a Wal-Mart run. I now have 33 pictures uploaded from my time back home for Christmas check them out in the pictures folder called Christmas Break 2006. Our Day of Recollection started today at 8pm, so it is a day of no talking. This gives us a chance to recollect about our vocation and what is going on in our lives. The speaker is doing a great job and is speaking about ordination and contemplation.
January 11, 2006 (Wednesday)
The Day of Recollection went well and it gave me a lot of time to catch up on my much needed sleep. The two talks for today where both good and gave us a great insight to how to be a good priests. The vow of celebacy was greatly stressed during the second talk. After the Day of Recollection ended I got to sit with BC again at supper and it was great to hear his old tales of the many things he has done in his life. I think I am starting to get used to this place again, but a part of me is still ready to return home and be with my friends back in Tennessee. My countdown is going and right now I have 94 days until I will get to be with them again.
January 12, 2006 (Thursday)
From 9:30pm until midnight I was at Bearcat Lanes doing some Cosmic Bowling. There was a total of 8 of us and we split up into two different lanes. I think we had around 5 games played by the end of the night. Good old BC came along and he yet again went for the fall down the alley. O how much BC will be missed once he returns to Colorado.
January 13, 2006 (Friday)
After Evening Prayer this Sophomore class was out of here and to Applebees for a class outing. Brother Elias and the great BC joined us for this meal. After supper some of us returned to CSC, went for a movie at the Hangar, or went to Wal-Mart. I went to Wal-Mart and grabbed a few snacks to last me for the week. After Wal-Mart it was to the Union for free soda.
January 14, 2006 (Saturday)
Apostolics start tommorrow, so I actually got to make it to a Saturday Mass again. After Mass I had nothing to do, so the day just krept by. At 7:30pm everyone had to attend required fun at the Epiphany Party hosted by the pre-theos. My class all worn backpacks due to the fact that a lot of the new pre-theos wear their packpacks everywhere they go. After the party I got the chance to spend some time with BC who will be highly missed around here seeing how he is leaving tommorrow early morning. At about 12am I went off for a walk around the lake with a fellow classmate and I think it did me some good to talk a bit about where I am in life. Big note for the day is Denver has beaten New England we will have new Super Bowl Champions this year.
January 15, 2006 (Sunday)
My first Sunday Mass since returning for break was today. Father Samuel was the celebrant and gave a great homily that seemed to point at me and some things that are going on in my mind. After Mass we had our usual lunch which I was not impressed with. I bet you can guess that we had ham for the meal. The Knights of Columbus held there meeting at 2pm and next week I will finally get to be a 3rd degree memeber. After the meeting I watched the fianl minutes of the Colts vs. Steelers game. It all looked to be over, but the Steelers rushed it in for the TD and the ball was knocked out, and the Colts recovered. It was then down to the kicker to tie the game up and bring it into OT, but he missed very badly. I must also make a note that this website is one month away from being a year old.
January 16, 2006 (Monday)
Most schools are off today due to Martin Luther King Jr Day, but of course we here at Conception are still in school. Today brought on the first offical day back in team sports and the Sophomore class beat the Freshmen at volleyball six times out of six times played. Right now I am off to Evening Prayer and then supper. Tonight should be layed back and quiet seeing how all the school work has not kicked back in yet.
January 17, 2006 (Tuesday)
Classes today where slow and very boring. I was more than ready to get out of here after science and head to the lunch spot of Chinese. I booked my tickets to return home for Easter Break, and I am thinking about returning to Tennessee in late February. I will probably books those tickets tommorrow as long as I find out a few of my friends will be around during my time back.
January 18, 2006 (Wednesday)
Its official I will be heading back home for the off campus weekend in Feb. I am looking forward to being able to see all my friends again along with helping some at the parish again. This break should do me some good because it lies in the middle of the start of this semester and Easter break. I hopefuly will get to go to Fatz with the twins and just have a good time before returning to school. Tonight the CSC basketball team will be playing a scrimage game to prepare them for the upcoming tournament at Mundelein. Our team won the first game and I will keep you posted if they win again tonight.
January 19, 2006 (Thursday)
I love Thursday this semester. Last semester Thursday was filled with classes thanks to having Lab in the evening. Lab is now on Tuesday and my whole afternoon is filled with time for me to do whatever I want. Brother Elias has posted posters for Jan 29's Byzantine Liturgy. Whoever wants to go will get to leave CSC that Sunday and check out the liturgy in KC. I attended a Byzantine Liturgy over the summer and it was very awesome. It is a must for anyone who has never attended one before.
January 20, 2006 (Friday)
Yes finally the weekend is here and right after prayer some of us where battling the snow covered roads to go out and eat some Mexican food. After getting back I had to begin work on my Physical Science notebook which was due at 12am. After getting that done and out of the way it is safe to call this the weekend and to say I have nothing to do but rest.
January 21, 2006 (Saturday)
Today was the return of apostolics. We left here at 11:30am without any lunch due to the kitchen forgetting to prepare them for us. We instead left a bit early and ate at the greatest place in the world, Chipotle. Talked to the twins today and we will be going out to eat together when I return in late Febuary.
January 22, 2006 (Sunday)
Today was filled with a lot to do. Started things off at 10am for my usual Rosary before Mass, then Mass went on with a filled bacilica thanks to so many groups being here, after Mass was lunch, and then the Knights of Columbus held there 2nd and 3rd degree ceremonies. I am now a third degree Knight, so hopefuly in the future I will get to hold a job with the council I am in. Following the degree cermony we got to go to Conception Jct for a fish fry to welcome us into the degree. The AFC Champions are now the Steelers and the NFC Championship game is going on right now between the Panthers and Seahawks. I hope the Panthers will go all the way this year, but knowing my luck they will lose. Also, today marks the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, so lets all remember to say a prayer against abortion.
January 23, 3006 (Monday)
What a team sports it was today when the 10-0 Sophomore class took on the 0-10 Freshmen. They Frehmen took control and won all three games of volleyball played today. Next Wednesday hopefuly we will get a chance for revenge. Mass today was done by Father Xavior and his homily touched the topic of abortion because today is a day of prayer against it. He told us how he was the product of rape and how if his mother would of took the advice of abortion he would not be here today. To think of those people out there who think a child does not have a right to life just makes me sick. The other day I seen a picture of a pregnant woman with her stomach completely revealed. On it she wrote my child prefers prochoice. How sick can this woman be and how sick can we as a nation be to allow this to happen. We must join in prayer today and always to fight out against this evil.
January 24, 2006 (Tuesday)
It is all a countdown for me right now until I will be away from here. I only have 10 days until off campus where I will go to Nebraska with Tom and Karen, 30 days until I am back in Tennessee for long off campus, and 82 days until I will be leaving for spring break. I have added a link to the Dominican Sister of Saint Cecilia to my links page and I incourage you to go there and check out these sisters. Their convent is doing well and they are very devoted to the church.
January 25, 2006 (Wednesday)
I have been trying to get ahold of Father John O'Neil for sometime now, and today was the day I finally got him via phone. He is currently in Nashville working as the chaplain of a school that is related to the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia. He said if I was ever in Nashville I am invited to come and visit him and that he would be able to take me into the cloister so I could pray with the sisters. The only bad thing is he will only be there while school is going on, so I would have to go sometime during my spring break or in late May after returning to Tennessee at the end of Conception's school year.
January 26, 2006 (Thursday)
What a day to bring the countdown till off campus weekend down to 7. It all started with New Testament being canceled and then after second period the refreshing trip for pizza. After getting back from pizza I had to meet with my Spiritual Director for the first time this semester and once that was over I went for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration really made my day better and last semester I was unable to attend while the sacrament was exposed due to being in classes all Thursday. A very short News and Views ended this great day and to think only 7 more and I will be in Nebraska with the Silvas.
January 27, 2006 (Friday)
Some downs to the day, but all in all everything is going well. At SBS I took a test today which consisted of three essays I knew two of them real well and on the third one I made it all up and got none of it right. Not for sure how my grade will turn out, but it will probably not be good. That got me down a bit, but the weekend is here and I am thankfull to be out of school. The SOS went on today and all the basketball players are gone, so things are empty around here. I made it to Holy Hour which improved my day more and then went to Happy Hour to get my free sodas. Also, I am in the talks with Victoria and Sarah and I hope I will be able to get them to assist with the Stations and Adoration during the Lenten season back home. I know this will bring them closer to Christ.
January 28, 2006 (Saturday)
Only three of us left Conception to attend apostolics today. Our lunch yet again was not waiting on us so it ended up being a trip to Chipotle and Best Buy after apostolics. We where joined by three guys at the ward because they where in Kansas City for the SOS and got to stay Friday night in KC. Once getting back here I finished up my Physical Science Lab, took a nap, and then started to work a little on my upcoming philosophy paper. I think I know the material well, but you can never know for sure when it comes down to Father Isiac grading it.
January 29 ,2006 (Sunday)
Today I got to take a break from the usual Sunday life of Conception. A group of around 30 students took off for Kansas City to take part in the Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy was really nice, and is something that I like a lot because everything is sung. I still prefer things as we do them in the Latin Rite because I beleive it makes the people more envolved in the liturgy. After Divine Liturgy we headed to the Plaza where we had a bite to eat and got to check out the MAC store. On the way back we had to stop at a Neumann Center in Saint Joseph because Father Dan had to do Mass there. After Mass we got some spagettii and then it was back to Conception to prepare for the last week until off campus weekend.
January 30, 2006 (Monday)
Its the start of the week and all has went fine so far. I am really looking forward to Friday because it will be the day I get to leave with the Silvas for Nebraska. A New Testament Quiz which I will take tommorrow and my Philosophy paper which is due on Friday is all that stands in my way of getting out of here. This week I am also back on the schedule to be a waiter, but I guess they put me on a good week. I will not have to wait tables on Sunday and will not have to set up at all over the weekend thanks to the off campus. Also, big news to report about this Thursday. We will have Father Lawerence Boadt here to speek with us. He is the guy who wrote our Old Testament Text Book which we used last year. Tonight I am going to study a bit of NT and work a small amount on my paper, so it should be a rather easy night.
January 31, 2006 (Tuesday)
Today was a great day to close out the month of January. Started things off getting 10 points on my New Testament Quiz and the continued the world of the lost in physical science. After class I went to a small town named Bernard with Sam to eat at a place called Joe's Dinner. The food was good and it did not take them long to prepare it. After I got back I got a bit of free time and then it was off for science lab.