March 1, 2006 (Ash Wednesday)
Lent has finally arrived, so it is time to dust off my red brivary and not talk due to being on a silent retreat till 9pm Friday night. Also, today is a day for fast and to not eat meat. The speaker CSC brought in for the retreat is Father John Collet, OMI. So far he has done a great job with the retreat and has focused his attention on us being a Sacramential People. This retreat has a good schedule where I get to wake up at 9am and not have anything to do from after Mass till 5:15pm. The high schoolers from my parish back home got to do all the jobs for Mass, and the twins got to be alter servers. I hear that the girls did a very good job at helping the priest with Mass.
March 2, 2006 (Thursday)
The retreat continues with three conferences today. To close things out last night the speaker told a lot about two of the latest works from Pope Benedict XVI and incouraged us to read them. You can view and read these by going to the Vatican's website. Click here to read the pope's first encyclical called "Deus Cartius est" which says that God is love and click here to view the pope's message for lent 2006. Tommorrow we will only have two confrences and the retreat will end at 9pm with the end of Holy Hour.
March 3, 2006 (Friday)
Holy Hour closed off my three day retreat. It is great to finally be able to talk again. When I got back up to my room I gave my mother a call and she told me some news about scouting pants and shorts for ten dollars. This will be a great saving for all of us helping on the camp staff next year, so I will be giving people calls tommorrow to get their sizes. Next week should be a very challenging week because I have my evaluation due on Monday, a New Testament Test on Tuesday, and the worst thing of all a Thomism Paper due on Friday. As of right now I would be lucky to be able to write one line which is by far way to short for Father Issiac. Well I think I will spend the rest of my day taking it easy and save the next few days to worry about work.
March 4, 2006 (Saturday)
After having last weekend off from apostolics it was time to return to the Psych-Ward. It was great to be back and it was even better to get to eat a Chipotle. Today I also made a few calls over the scout shorts, so it was great to talk with Blaine again and it is always a pleasure to talk with the twins. Today I worked on finishing my self-evaluation, and even turned it in today which marks one more thing off my long to do list.
March 5, 2006 (Sunday)
The count down until the end of this year has been added to our bullitin board and it reads 70 days. Talked with the twins today and got their sizes which my guess was just about on the dot. I figured they would be half of my waist size, but actually they are a little bit less. It is amazing that someone can be so small. I did some work on catching up in Science Lab, but it looks like I have a ways to go to have everything ready to turn in.
March 6, 2006 (Monday)
It was a chilly outside today, but we still had team sports outside. We played Speedball which is a whole lot better then soccer because it gives people like me who cannot kick a ball the chance to actually do something. After supper I hit the books for the night, so that I can pull off a good great on my New Testament Exam which I will get to take first thing in the morning.
March 7, 2006 (Tuesday)
Kicked my day off with Mass and then it was time for my New Testament Test. With all the studying that I did last night I think the my grade will be OK on the exam. For lunch a few of us went to Joe's Dinner which is a small dinner in a small town about 10 minutes down the road. After getting back it was time for Lab which was easy for once. I have to keep to my goal of turning in all my back labs by Friday. Tonight I finally get some time off, but tommorrow night I get to work on my Father Issiac paper.
March 8, 2006 (Wednesday)
Started my philosophy paper today at 7pm and got everything done at 10pm. It feels so good to say the paper is done and out of the way. Tommorrow I will have to type it up and also finish my lab reports. For reports during the day I went to Maryville and ate at Julio's and then went to Wal-Mart where I picked up a copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Hopefully I will find sometime to watch the movie this weekend.
March 9, 2006 (Thursday)
After a long two week break from Gambinos I finally got to go back for some Thursday Tradition Pizza. After getting back to school I had nothing to do for the rest of the afternoon, so I ended up taking a long needed nap. Mass today was celebrated by the bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo. Its always great to have a bishop with us and tommorrow for Mass we will get Bishop Finn of the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph. The reason for them both being down is for the Board of Regents which will start to meet this weekend. I also can now claim that my philosophy paper is done and printed off my computer.
March 10, 2006 (Friday)
It was great to hand my paper in and after class I took a nap till lunch time. Mass was moved to 5pm because of the Board of Regents giving me more time for sleep. After lunch I had 20 pages to read for Western Civ, but all that time was wasted due to Brother Thomas cancelling class last minute. At 3:30 my class had to set up for the Regents meal. Mass was at 5pm and the celebrant was Bishop Finn of the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joe. After supper a few of us went out to see the Hills have Eyes. The movie was OK, but not the best in the world.
March 11, 2006 (Saturday)
This had to go down as one of my most unproductive says ever. Besides going to the Psych-Ward and getting my usual meal at Chipotle I did nothing but watch movies all day. We started off with "Return to Oz", then "The Music Box, and finally "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." For the rest of the night I think I will just take things easy and maybe I will find the desire to finish those last two science labs up. I must also note the twins did an awesome job at selling Scout Show tickets. They sold a total of 114 which blew me alway cause I figured they would be lucky to get around 75.
March 12, 2006 (Sunday)
Another day of getting nothing done. After Mass and lunch I watched some more movies. Today's lineup was "Corpse's Bride" and "Zuthura." Both movies where pretty good, but I must say "A Nightmare Before Christmas" was better then "Corpse's Bride" and "Jamangi" was better then "Zuthura." I also watched a brand new episode of the Simpsons and had hopes to watch the new Family Guy but the station was going crazy. Out ticket sells are now up to 270, so hopefully things will continue to go well with there sells.
March 13, 2006 (Monday)
The start of another week is under way. The good thing about this week is that once it is over I will get a chance to spend sometime away from campus. On Friday I will get to leave after Mass and stay the weekend with Tom and Karen in Nebraska. The deficiency reports came out today and I got one in Physical Science. My grade in the class is a D which does not matter to me. At this point all I want to do is have math and science behind me, so I never have to worry about it again. The rest of the class is also doing poorly at this point, so things will hopefully come along for the next exam.
March 14, 2006 (Tuesday)
It was a long day of classes today, but I am thankfull for getting off of campus to have Chinese for lunch. After my lab we had a Reflection group which was followed by a Formation Conference given by Father Xavior. After the conference I decided to just go back to my room and catch up on some lost sleep. Nothing planned for the rest of the night, but my Chaplains Meeting which starts in 20 minutes.
March 15, 2006 (Wednesday)
Not much to report for today. Everything went well and I continue to count the time left until I will be leaving here and on my way to Nebraska. I should report that I have gotten some great music downloads these past few days. I found an Ozzy Osbourne CD that came out in 2005 that has many covers. I had to download all the covers on it that deals with the Beatles in anyway. The best of the three songs downloaded was Working Class Hero which was originally done by John Lennon.
March 16, 2006 (Thursday)
I really thought that today was going to be normal and that I would have nothing special to report. This all became untrue as I was getting out of Sam's truck to go get the usual Thursday pizza. I heard the familiar voice of BC, but at first I thought I was going nuts, and then I seen him walk from around a car. He never told us he was coming up and it sure was a suprise to see him 15 hours away from his home in Colorado. We made plans to go out later in the day in bowl, but the alley was booked so we just took it easy around the Conception campus. He will be leaving tommorrow to head back to Colorado, and I will be leaving tommorrow after Mass to spend the weekend with Tom and Karen. I probably will not journal again until Sunday night.
March 17, 2006 (Friday)
Well I actually got to get to a computer, so here is my report for Friday. Tom meet up with me for Mass at Conception and we took off to head to his home in Nebraska after eating lunch. Once we got into town it was time to go to the parish's fish fry which was put on by the Knights of Columbus council in Fremont. All the food was very good and after getting done here we attended the Stations of the Cross. The Stations started out with the Blessed Sacrament being brought out which I must add the servers did a bad job. This in a way makes me feel good because I had Victoria and Sarah all the way back in Tennessee serving for Holy Hour, and figured that they had to be doing a better job. After Stations we returned to Tom's house and I gave a call to the twins to see how Holy Hour went for them. It was around 9pm est at the time of the call and I was suprised that they were about to go to bed. I feel so bad for calling them so late, but I had to hear about how things went. I talked with Sarah and she told me all went well. This for sure will be my last entry until I get back to Conception on Sunday.
March 18, 2006 (Saturday)
Started my day off with Morning Mass at 8am which was followed by Holding Court with Father Corty at a local coffee shop. Here Father Corty has an open forum about issues that deal with the church and the Catholic faith. After this Karen had to head to work, but I did get to go with Tom to get some breakfast. After breakfast the two of us went to the Fremont Lakes which are pretty amazing. It is awesome that so many lakes can exist in one area and be so close together. After the lakes we went to the grocery store to get some items for supper. When we got home Karen was back in and she got a call from Father Corty asking if we would like to have supper with him after the 5:30 Mass, so we ended up going out with him instead of having Tom cook. Father Corty had a great homily at the 5:30 Mass which included a great story. In the story are two fish, one who is young and full of energy and one who is slow and old. One day the old fish swims up to the young fish who is swimming all over the place with so much energy and asks a question. Why don't you just slow down? The young fish answers because I hear that water is good for fish and I must find it, do you know were I could find it? The old fish then told him he is surrounded by water, but the young fish could not see things to be that easy, so he swam away still in search for water. This is much like us who search everywhere for God, but in all truth God is all around us.
March 19, 2006 (Sunday)
Woke up to a world of snow, but things are far different in Nebraska. If a snow like this would happen in Tennessee the town would be closed down at least for a day or two. In Nebraska the snow is nothing, and the people do not mind to get out and go about their normal bussiness. We attended the 9am Mass and after it was finished I left to head back to Conception with Tom. Around the state line the snow turned in to rain, but it does look like the snow is on its way. They say we could end up with a total of 12 inches by tommorrow night along with something called thunder snows. This is bad news because pastors from all over the United States will be coming in for Pastor's Day and this snow will probably put a damper on most of the pastors making it down. After getting back to my room I gave a call to Victoria and Sarah to see how sells at the 5pm Mass went and they told me they sold $101 worth. This amazes me a lot seeing how well sells did last week. It looks for sure that free scout uniforms will be on the way.
March 20, 2006 (Monday)
The big snow was not here when I awoke in the morning, but it did come later in the day. The wind was also blowing very hard today and blew a big part of the roof off of Saint Benedict's Hall. Also the snow put a big damper on Pastor's Day because about half of the pastors decided not to come. Alejandro's pastor Father David and a big suprise for us our vocation director Father Peter came down to visit. I get the day off from school tommorrow because of the feastday of Saint Benedict, so I will get to sleep in for once I hope.
March 21, 2006 (Tuesday)
Today fills so much like a Sunday thanks to it being the feastday of Saint Benedict today. I got to sleep in till about 9am and then had the first thing to attend for the day at 10:30am. After Mass they finally served us brunch and Father Peter and Father David joined us for the meal. Father David left following lunch and Father Peter set times up for us to meet with him. After meeting with Father Peter my day was nice and relaxing until 5:30 when I had to go to vespers with the monks. After vespers the Diocese of Knoxville was out of here and at A&Gs eating some great Greek food.
March 22, 2006 (Wednesday)
I really hate science! I spent a good chunk of the night working on a few questions for science. These questions covered things that Father Albert never went over in class. We will see how things go tommorrow in class when the class pleads to him of how we have no clue of how to do his homework assignment. Papers also came in our mail boxes witch tell of the future of what is required of us in philosophy. I have no clue if I want to go the old way or the new way yet, but I am leaning more towards the old way. Father Mike gave me a call and told me that he will have 4 guys down for Ecounter and wanted to take us all out on Friday night. Looks like A&Gs may be the place to go for the second time this week.
March 23, 2006 (Thursday)
Not much to report about the life here at the seminary. We are all just preparing for the upcoming Ecounter with God's Call Weekend. I was invited to go down with a few of my fellow classmates for Mass in Kansas City this Saturday. We will attend a Trenitine Mass for the Annuncation and I will make a consecration to Jesus through Mary after the Mass is over. A Pennence Service went on today back home and my mother told me we had good attendance. Tommorrow it looks like I will be spending my freetime to clean my room up for the upcoming weekend.
March 24, 2006 (Friday)
At 3:30pm I caught up with the guys from Knoxville who came in today. I got to show them around a bit, and we made it to Stations of the Cross and Evening Prayer. After prayer we went out to eat at A&Gs, and I got to try swordfish. After getting back to Conception the guys went their own way, and I did much of nothing. Right now I am on my way to adoration for the next hour and I will pray for all those who are coming to the Ecounter with God's Call Weekend.
March 25, 2006 (Saturday)
It was a filled day from start to end today. Starting everything off at 6:30am today so I could get to Kansas City to attend a Trinitine Mass. After Mass we headed to Saint Joseph to attend out apostolics. I got involved in a game of Dice, and wow what a game Dice is. After getting done at the ward I eat at the greatest place in the world, Chipotle. When I got back here many people where already here for the Ecounter With God's Call Weekend. I was named ambassador for two guys that came up from my Diocese. The coffee shop night went well and had many great acts. After Coffee Shope I made a Confession and stayed to pray in the pressence of the Blessed Sacrament for around an hour.
March 26, 2006 (Sunday)
This has been a very busy week with all that has been going on with the Ecounter with God's Call Weekend. I must say this past week has been filled with a lot of great food seeing how I got to eat out at A&Gs three times this past week. I am looking forward to taking a nice and pleasent sleep tonight cause this weekend has completly worn me out.
March 27, 2006 (Monday)
Its the start of a new week and the end of the Ecounter Weekend. Today those visiting the school who are still around attended morning classes with us. The Knoxville guys joined me for Thomism where we got out papers back. I made a D on it which really means nothing when it comes down to Father Issiac. I still have two more chances to bring my grade up, and I think I will do fine. Shortly after lunch the guys headed out of here to head back to the great state of Tennessee.
March 28, 2006 (Tuesday)
An open forum with the rector was held today to discuss the Apostolic Visitation which will be happening next week. I think the school has done a great job preparing it so far, so the questions ended up being asked more on the future of the school. The visiters will get here Sunday evening and will leave on Friday. My meeting with them will be on Tuesday and I do think that all will go well with the visitation. My plans for tonight are to work on my SBS Presentation which I get to give tommorrow in third period.
March 29, 2006 (Wednesday)
Father Issiac handed out his next assignment which will be due on April 12th. I think some of us will be getting together this weekend to work on it, and hopefully I will get a good grade this time. After Mass a few of us went out to Joe's for lunch. After getting back I took it easy until it was time to head off to Team Sports. Tonight I have some Physcial Science to do, but I do not know how to answer many of the questions. Father Albert really needs to do a better job when it comes to teaching.
March 30, 2006 (Thursday)
I downloaded Rob Zombie's newest albulm call Educated Horses today. This albulm has to be his best and if you are a fan of his music you should pick the albulm up as soon as possible. After supper we where sent to the basement because of a tornado warning, but nothing ever came. After being able to leave the basement I went over to the Union where I got involved in a game of Spades. After the game of Spades a few of us went out to make a late night McDonalds run.
March 31, 2006 (Friday)
The weekend is here and with many hardships to show my love for those that I truely care for. Today Victoria and Sarah served at Holy Hour back home in my home parish, so I promised them that I would spend the same hour here at Conception in front of the Blessed Sacrament praying for them. Being a Friday in Lent the guys went out to Red Lobster, but I had to stay behind so that I go be joined to them by prayer. I really hope by them helping with Holy Hour this Lenten season that the twins will grow in love for the Eucharist. If we live our lives to be worthy of Christ which we receive in the Eucharist this world would be a wonderfull place. Today in the TV Lounge I got to watch a wonderfull movie about a very holy woman. This movie was "Therese the Story of Saint Therese of Lisieux." This movie was great and when I get home I am going to make sure my family and friends watch it. This movie will leave you with the desire to be holy and to do the bidding of Christ.