February 1, 2007 (Thursday)
Father McManus is back, so we finally had to return to Latin class. With being gone for so long things were not actually that bad. Following News and Views today I had to meet with those going on the Hispanic Weekend. Due to the Hispanic Weekend I will not post anything on here until Sunday night at best. And yes thanks to us being gone we will miss most of the Super Bowl. Tomorrow is my sister�s birthday, so a happy birthday to you!
February 2, 2007 (Friday)
Today was a very rushed day due to reading for Contemporary Philosophy and packing to attend Hispanic Weekend. Following my last period of the day we loaded up the vehicles and off we went to the far end of Nebraska. Once we got there we put with our family for the weekend. I was paired up with Greg and we got a family which had three kids. The parents did not know English, but the kids were able to speak both languages. We ate a late supper once getting to there home, and then end up getting some sleep after such a long day.
February 3, 2007 (Saturday)
The day started off praying Morning Prayer together in the church, and then we loaded up to go and see a local dairy. Once getting back from the dairy we returned to the church in order to have some time for soccer/basketball. Of course the Hispanics killed us at soccer, but we got the upper hand in basketball. Once this was over we returned to our home for the weekend, so we could get ready to attend Mass. After Mass was over we went to the gym to watch some Hispanic dancing and we also had a great supper filled with many different types of food. Towards the end of the night some of the seminarians ended up getting a game of Duck, Duck, Goose together and this ended up being a hit with the kids. Once getting back to the house Greg and myself hung out with the kids for a good time before retiring for the night.
February 4, 2007 (Sunday)
We went to Mass again in the morning and then had a going away lunch with the Hispanic people. This weekend actually went well, and it was hard to leave my host family after the end of the weekend. While on the road the Super Bowl between the Colts and the Bears started, so we ended up listening to the game on the radio. Around halftime we returned to Conception, and I stayed in the Alumni Union in order to watch the game. It was great to see Manning and the Colts finally pull off a Super Bowl win.
February 5, 2007 (Monday)
Due to the Hispanic Weekend I did not get much of a break for sleep and relaxation which means I was a tad bit tired thorough my classes for the day. Once the day was over I ended up making plans for a Perkins run with the Bomb. This run went well and this week the Bomb actually showed up. Also, I have no idea where I placed my cell phone. The last time I remember seeing it was at the closing Mass of Hispanic weekend, so it looks like I will have to purchase I new phone. I just hope I will be able to keep my old phone number with my new phone.
February 6, 2007 (Tuesday)
Father Isaac put us through a lot today. To think that this week two papers will be due instead of one. At 3:45 I had reflection group, and this time around it was set up for peer evaluations. We have a total of 9 guys in the group and it took about an hour and a half to do four of us. Peer evaluations are set up so we can be charitable to each other in what we say and help others to see what are their good traits as well as their bad traits. I was the second person to get spoken about, and things did not end up being to bad.
February 7, 2007 (Wednesday)
Conception got some snow today, but apostolics did not get cancelled. With a cold going around campus my driver did not go this week, so I had to take myself. It was good to get a chance to spend time by myself and also to be freely out and on the move for once. Class went well, and towards the end of the night my class met with sister to cover for their First Confession which they will be making tomorrow night. After classes were over I made a quick stop at Wal-Mart and then returned to school.
February 8, 2007 (Thursday)
Today was a long day which started with classes for the morning, and then I went out for lunch. A few of us tried the new Mexican place in Maryville and I must say that La Bonita is a better place. Once getting back to school I took a long nap and woke up in time to make Liturgy Practicum. After this was over we had Mass and Father McManus was the celebrant and as usual he gave us a very bonum homily. News & Views was funny today thanks to Hayes coming out dressed in his swimming trunks in order to advertise for next Friday�s Polar Bear swim. After all this was finished our class met to finish peer evaluation and this took a little over two hours to do. Once getting back to my room I was emailed about tux sizes, so I ended up having to get those taken. These sizes are needed for the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree that I will be taking on the 24th of this month. Tomorrow after my last class the Off Campus weekend will start, so I will be unable to update until I return on Sunday. This time I will be going with Anton and Lorenzo to check out Jefferson City, MO.
February 9, 2007 (Friday)
It was a long day with leaving campus for the weekend at the back of my mind. Once the last period of the day was over Lorenzo and I joined Anton, so we could take off for Jefferson City. This was my first trip to this city, so I was very surprised with how small the capitol city is. We stayed at Saint Peter�s Church which is the old cathedral of the diocese. This is a very pretty church which has a great view of the capital building seeing that it is just across the street. After getting our things dropped off at the church we took off to eat supper.
February 10, 2007 (Saturday)
We got the day started off early because we went to Morning Mass with the Carmelite sisters in Jefferson City. The small chapel they have was very nice and the priest gave a great homily. We also ran into James, a seminarian at Conception, at this Mass. After Mass we stopped by the cathedral of the diocese and got to go inside of it. Once getting done here we stopped by a record store and then went to the Catholic bookstore called Divinity. I picked up a few books and prayer cards here. I finally got my hands on the Latin Vulgate. It was a very pricy purchase, but I will put the bible to good use. After doing all of this we spent the rest of the day checking out the churches of the diocese. One of the stops was the Marian shrine which was very well put together. It is amazing that an 18 year old teen was the one who started all of this. Once we got back to Saint Peter�s Church we watched some House in the rectory and then went back out to see some more churches and get some food for supper. Once getting back to the rectory we watched some more House before going to bed.
February 11, 2007 (Sunday)
We woke up early again this morning, so we could travel to Rolla for the 10am Mass and give Anton some time to visit with his mother. On the way to Rolla we got to see some more churches of the diocese. Once in Rolla we stayed at Anton�s house for awhile and then got dressed in our cassocks, so we could assist in serving at the Mass. Anton�s parish was very nice, but I was not into their choice of music. For this Mass they had a rock group which played some very lively music. Looking past all of this things were OK. Once leaving the church we stopped back by Anton�s house and then had to make the return trip to Conception.
February 12, 2007 (Monday)
Off Campus is over and now it is time to get back into the swing of things. Starting today the snow started to fall and it looks like we will be getting a good amount of it tonight. Since coming back from Christmas break there has not been a day at Conception when the snow was not present. Once it starts to go away it just melts again, so with this new snow it looks like things will stay nice a white around here. Today on my way to prayer I noticed that a monk of the abbey passed away which I was gone for the off campus weekend. The monk�s name is Father Edgar and he is brother to Father Regis of the monastery. The funeral Mass will be held this Wednesday and an Evening Prayer will be held on Tuesday for Father Edgar.
February 13, 2007 (Tuesday)
Tuesday went just like a usual one: Classes along with a run to Gambinos. Evening prayer was held later today and we joined the monks in prayer for Father Edgar. Father Albert gave the Eulogy at the prayer and did a very good job with it.
February 14, 2007 (Wednesday)
Happy Valentine�s Day to everyone! The funeral was held today in place of third period, so in other words I did not have Latin today. As usual the monk of Conception Abbey did a great job with the funeral. Everything was so beautiful and solemn. After my final class of the day I headed off to my apostolics in Saint Joes and did the usual stop at Chipotle. With today being such a miserably cold night attendance was down, so my class ended up joining with sisters to watch a cartoon about Our Lady of Fatima. This cartoon did a great job summing up the importance of this occasion, and really brought my sense of importance out when it concerns the Holy Rosary. After the movie the kids got to make valentine cards for Miss. Anne who is still not back with us after all of these weeks.
February 15, 2007 (Thursday)
Happy second birthday to this website. It is hard to believe that I have been updating these journals for such a long amount of time. Latin class was very interesting today because it gave the class a chance to see who the real Saint Valentinus was. Of course the holiday of Valentine�s Day goes way beyond chocolate and hearts and of course all the immoral things which come with the day these days. In the time of Saint Valentinus February 14th was a day devoted to becoming fertile. In order to do this one would strip down naked and then pour goat�s blood all over their body. They would next get some skin and dip it into the blood. They would then run up and down the people and smack the blood covered skin onto people. When one was touched they would then become fertile and would be able to create kids. This of course was seen as wrong to the Christians. Also, at this time soldiers could not be married. Of course they could have all the sex they want, but just not get married. The whole thinking behind this one was being married would make a commitment for you, so instead not being married means not commitment and thus a better soldier. This is where Saint Valentinus comes in because he was the one who went behind the government and married the people. This of course shrunk the size of the army because someone married cannot be a soldier. Saint Valentinus was later seized, but came out OK thanks to curing a girl who in return caused a whole household to be baptized. Yet again the government was mad, so Saint Valentinus was clubbed to death. This is a punishment only allowed to people who commit treason. Very interesting because that is what he caused all the soldiers to do when they got married. Of course Saint Valentinus was a Roman, so the clubbing was not what killed him, but instead was the beheading which is a death fitting for a Roman. From all of this I to must be like Father McManus and question why Saint Valentinus was taken off the Roman Calendar? I truly think Saint Valentinus is real and is a great saint to turn to in prayer especially when it comes to issues a good marriage.
February 16, 2007 (Friday)
Due to Contemporary philosophy being a little bit a head we got the chance to watch another episode from the Twilight Zone. This episode allowed us to see the first appearance of William Shatner on TV. After class was over the Polar Bear Swim was held and even thought it was snowing again I had to go again. This year a small square was cut into the ice which would only fit one swimmer at a time. After Evening prayer the junior class went to Whiskey Creek in Saint Joseph for a class outing, and the food and company was very good. I am so thankful that a weekend that I am doing nothing on is here. I hope to spend time over this weekend trying to get some philosophy done.
February 17, 2007 (Saturday)
It was nice to be back on campus for a weekend for once. My day was spent getting caught up on much needed sleep and watching some House along with playing a few old Nintendo games to pass the time.
February 18, 2007 (Sunday)
Conception might just have faith in me after all seeing that they finally have put me on the list to serve at the Holy Mass. This week I got to be the thurifer for the first time this year. All went well at doing the job and I did not hear any complaints afterwards. I went out to eat some Chinese for supper with Greg, Anton, and Andy. This was the first time that I have eaten here in awhile, but the food was just as good as I last remembered it to be. Later that night I made a Perkins run to see the Bomb and then it was back to school to get some sleep in order to be ready for the upcoming week of school.
February 19, 2007 (Monday)
Thanks to this being the week of Ash Wednesday this is a two day week of school. During supper I met with those heading up Star Council committees so we could talk about how the progress is going. I am in charge of the church committee and it looks like our two events will be getting breviaries for those who do not have one and a Eucharistic procession. After this meeting was over everything looks very good for our council in getting this award.
February 20, 2007 (Tuesday)
It was a great feeling when Latin class let out today because it signaled the end of my week. After class we did not make the usual run for pizza, but instead went into Maryville and ate Mexican food at La Bonita. Before returning to the school we stopped at Wal-Mart and I picked a few things up along with the Simpsons season 4. Today�s formation conference was given by Abbott Gregory and he broke the news to us that Father Samuel will be taking over next year as the Rector of the school. We will find out during the Board of Regents who will take over as the Dean of Students. At 8pm the sophomore�s hosted the Mardi Gras party which ended up with all the chaplains getting a pie to the face. Once the party was over we made a Perkins run, but ended up having to go to Denny�s because of a lack of assistance.
February 21, 2007 (Ash Wednesday)
Today is Ash Wednesday and thus the start of the Lenten season. With the start of the season comes our Lenten retreat which means no classes for us until next week. The presenter for our three day retreat is Monsignor Fidler of the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph. His first conference was about his time spent at Vatican II and the rest of his conferences for the day highly encouraged us to pick up a mantra to use throughout the day in order to stay connected to Christ in prayer. Abbott Gregory was the presider at Mass today and of course we got the sign of the cross made on our foreheads with the Ashes of the palms from last year�s Palm Sunday.
February 22, 2007 (Thursday)
Our retreat continued today which was again filled with the idea of having a mantra and also reflecting upon the gospels. Today was a good day to relax and also reflect upon my stay here at the seminary. I met with my spiritual director today and we had a very good meeting which helped to complete things for my Lenten Retreat.
February 23, 2007 (Friday)
The Lenten Retreat continued today, but ended with Evening Prayer. Before the school prayed Evening Prayer the junior class led the community in the Stations of the Cross, and we had a pretty good turnout. After prayer everyone was ready to get out of here and get some outside air. I went to McDonalds and the then to Wal-Mart to pick up an itunes card. I of course did not eat meat at McDonalds seeing that today is not only a Friday, but also a Friday during Lent.
February 24, 2007 (Saturday)
I woke up early to attend the Mass in the oratory. Father McManus is gone to Phoenix this weekend, so Father Dan was nice enough to celebrate Mass for us. After Mass I took a shower and then got dressed to attend the Knights of Columbus fourth degree ceremony which put me in Kansas City for the whole day. Once getting into Kansas City we stopped at a Marriot Hotel and dressed into our tuxes. Shortly after doing this the ceremony started up, and I am now proud to say that I am a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. After the ceremony was over I changed into my cassock for the rest of the night. The next thing on the schedule was Mass which I got to serve at along with my other seminarian brothers who were able to attend. After Mass we had a chance to just hang out and visit, and then a nice banquet followed. After the banquet was over we headed back to Conception and on our way ran into a lot of snow. Thankfully we got back to the school okay.
February 25, 2007 (Sunday)
My alarm clock woke me up a 9am as planned, but I ended up turning it off and then returned to sleep. I woke up about an hour later when I heard the bells signaling the start of Mass to be in fifteen minutes. At this I jumped up got dressed and somehow made it to the basilica before the Mass started. After lunch I took a nice long nap to make up for how late I returned to Conception last night and then did some work on a Contemporary Philosophy paper about defining a free act.
February 26, 2007 (Monday)
After a nice long break I returned to classes today. All went well and thankfully Father McManus did not have time to give a quiz on Unit 16. Some of the guys left today because of a basketball game, so I took the place of one guy who was on the list to be a waiter for the week. It is hard to believe that we will again get the chance to get out of here come this Thursday because of the Long Off Campus Weekend.
February 27, 2007 (Tuesday)
All was usual today. The Formation Conference was given by Father Samuel. The point of the conference was to lift our spirits in these last weeks of school which are ahead of us. After conference I was asked by Cory to help waiter for supper, so I ended up helping out. After supper was over and all was cleaned up I had a meeting with Father Dan which could not take place last week due to the long retreat.
February 28, 2007 (Wednesday)
Had apostolics today and did the usual routine. At Best Buy I purchased I Dream of Jeannie Season 3. At class I taught the kids about the rosary and how to pray it. Once getting back I made a call to Tom to make sure everything was OK for going to Nebraska for the Long Off Campus weekend. All is good, so tomorrow after Mass with the monks I will be getting out of Conception.