Graduation... now what!?!

Well, I graduated on Saturday! It was such an overwhelming weekend! And I'm not only talking about the packing that I despised. Sr. Josie came for graduation, so she could graduate with her class! It was one of the most amazing things ever and such a blessing to see her, along with her Postulant Director and five other postulants.

The ceremony was wonderful. One cool part was before we even got inside the gymnasium, we had lined up for walking, and then all of the faculty and some staff walked through us, then they lined up and we walked through them, and we applauded each other. And simply walking into the gymnasium I was so overtaken with mixed emotions. All those people were here for us! The 2008 graduating class of Saint Mary's! I think I teared up a couple times during the ceremony, but nothing I couldn't blink away!

Afterwards at the reception was a lot of fun, and I didn't cry once there! I thought it was quite an accomplishment. haha. Later on that day though... saying bye to some friends was very difficult. I think our crying even made my mom tear up! The friendships made at college are one of a kind. Fr. Steffes, earlier this week, told me about staying close to those whom God wills for us to have a close relationship with. I wish I could remember more of what he said... but basically to trust in God to keep the friends close who will always be there. Maybe not physically, but, as a I told a friend last night, that is why cell phones were created! Praise God!

So... here I am, a college graduate.... at home. With TONS of stuff! AH! I'm so glad I don't have to be at any job right now, unlike some people! I can take this week to sort through stuff and clean up everything else. It certainly will be a large project, but what else am I supposed to do!?! Summer, here I come!

Texas... for 2 years

Yesterday I found out where I'll be placed for Echo... and I'll be in Texas. That was my absolute last preference... God, what are you trying to show me through this!?! I was really disappointed when I got the e-mail because I was really hoping to be placed in either Peoria or Milwaukee, NOT Texas, which is 16 hours from my home. I'm warming up to the idea now and I know that I'll be there for a reason. I was looking at the Fort Worth diocesan website and they do have a ton to offer for youth ministry, so that is probably one of the reasons I was sent down there. I already met the two women I'll be living with and they are both very sweet. A couple of things that I can look forward to are (hopefully) visiting a friend in Kansas on my drive down to Texas, and another friend lives in Texas; he used to go to Saint Mary's. So, I have a couple connections in the south. I'm curious about Catholicism down in the South. I approach my faith from a traditional background, and I know different diocese vary in some aspects. I'm sure I'll find out sooner or later, but I really hope there is a perpetual adoration chapel somewhere in Fort Worth! Anyway, I should really get working on my Christology rough draft...

Another Month

Again, another month has come and gone and I have neglected this blog of mine. Things have been quite crazy though! My thesis was "due" on Monday, but only for peer reviewing; we don't know when the actual due date is. T.E.C. 60 is also coming up, turns out it is this weekend! I'm the Spiritual Director for it so I have to work with the two co-leaders and also plan the prayer services throughout the weekend.

There have been moments when I've been pretty stressed out about stuff, but God suffices and He shows me that He is bigger than everything I bring to Him. Last week I had spiritual direction, but I didn't really want to go; I just wasn't "in the mood" or something, it was slightly strange. Turns out it was a very productive and spiritually uplifting meeting! I am very blessed to have Fr. Steffes as my spiritual director and I'm glad the Holy Spirit called me to be very open with him! I felt the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart again during the two hour Divine Mercy Sunday prayer service. Towards the end of it Fr. Steffes and Fr. Melvin stood up front praying over people. I was up in the choir loft because I sang the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with some friends who played instruments and sang with me. I decided to walk down and I was the very last person and I truly felt God working through my heart while Fr. was praying over me, and I still can feel the effects of it! Praise God! It is amazing when you surrender ALL to Him.

I know this was a short update, but I should finish my letter to Sister Josie and get to bed! I've had some late nights recently.

St. Teresa of Avila, Pray for us!

flying fast

I cannot believe that it has been over a month since I posted last, this semester has been so busy with homework and everything that goes between that and classes and eating! Well, here is a huge update for my blog: I got accepted into Echo, a grad school program at Notre Dame! Last weekend I went for my interview and had a tour of campus, plus hung out with the other amazing applicants and the wonderful people who work with Echo through the university. I can't believe how huge and beautiful Notre Dame is! I am so excited to be there this summer!!! It's been awesome telling others that I got in and seeing them share my joy with me! Through summer classes and a few correspondence courses I will get a masters degree in theology, and also two years of experience at working in a parish while living in an intentional faith community with three other Echo apprentices during the school year. It's free, I will receive a stipend, and it's simply the best program for me out there! I should get to bed now so I can be refreshed for another day of classes and homework, loads of it.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Let Him Love You

Your flaws, your mistakes,
the failures that you feel,
Let Him love you.

Your fear, your worry,
the confusion that's inside,
Let Him love you.

Your wounds, your scars,
the pain deep inside,
Let Him love you.

Your joy, your hope,
the love that flows through,
Let Him love you.

Your innocence, your gains,
the beauty that abounds,
Let Him love you.

Your heart, your mind,
the self that you find,
Let Him love you.

Happy secular New Year

haha oh man, so thinking about my title brought me back to memories of celebrating the Liturgical New Year on Dec. 1st. I love the Catholic Church. I suppose it's similar to how the Chinese have their own new year as well, and I'm sure others do too. But here it is, the start of a new year and the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. I went to the vigil Mass last night so as it is 6:40 here in Wisconsin, I am still in my PJs! Gotta love it. I've been reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for most of the day and I also played my guitar for at least 45 minutes. After finishing another chapter in Book 7 of the Harry potter adventures I decided it was time to pray evening prayer and also read more from Isaiah. Have I mentioned in here that I love that book? Well, I do! Right now I'm at the part where it talks about the prophesies of the destruction of all these countries, so the words of Isaiah don't apply to me directly, but it is still a learning and prayerful experience and I am looking forward to getting to later chapters.

So last night... you know, I just don't understand the whole "bar scene." I would much prefer to be at home and have a drink or two, hanging with my really good friends. That or Jeffersons, where you can sit around, enjoying a Blue Moon, and chatting there too. My friend Angie, her boyfriend Jake, and I went to Menomonie to go to the bars there; to see two of their friends from school and later to see Angie's cousin and her friends. We went to LogJam pretty early, about 8ish and we all ordered a drink. There was hardly anyone there! But it was nice b/c the music was very low and we were able to talk without having to lean in or ask for repeats. After that we went to this guy's house, Angie's cousin's friend's place. We had a glass of wine there and chatted with them; it was a fun and interesting time. Just before 11 we headed back downtown and went to a bar, Lakeshore. There was hardly any room in there, they had a VERY inappropriate video played during this one song, and only three of Carrie's friends ordered drinks. We just stood around, moving every once in awhile when people wanted to pass by. We finally left and went back to LogJam, this time it was packed. Carrie knew a ton of people and was off saying Hi to them while Angie, Jake, and I stood around quite awkwardly! We laughed at the awkwardness of the situation though and made the best of it. We were there for the countdown and people all cheered when it hit midnight. We were all like, big deal, whoo hoo. It was so difficult to hear Angie and Jake talking and it was smelly from all the smoke. I just don't see the glamour in standing around yelling at your friends so they can hear you over the music! I probably never will either because I simply do not understand the concept of drinking to get drunk. I guess I'm blessed in that way that I never went through that phase; but on the other hand it's hard to see where these people are coming from in their excessive drinking. Oh well! Anyway, I think I'm going to try to unleash my creative side for a bit, and then get back to the guitar and Harry Potter (as well as Ron and Hermoine).

Holy Family

I was asked to write a reflection for the Feast of the Holy Family coming up this Sunday to be posted on a different website that promotes a CD that students from Saint Mary's are created, which is all about Mary. Since I haven't posted on here for awhile, I figured I'd share this reflection with you, may as well get something on this blog! Well, here it is:

This time of year presents us with many beautiful opportunities to reflect on the life of the Holy Family. This Feast of the Holy Family commemorates the life and love that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph shared, but we also remember them at Christmas. Think about the great love and joy that Mary and Joseph experienced at the birth of their son! This was no simple family vacation though, for they had to place all of their trust in God. When Mary was first approached by Gabriel she had to trust in God’s promise that the newly conceived child would be the promised Messiah. Joseph, in turn, had to trust Mary about this miraculous conception. Joseph was also asked to be the protector of a child who was not fully his, but with a grace-filled heart he loved Jesus as his own. In protecting his family, Joseph had to trust when an angel told him to flee to Egypt away from the vengeance of Herod.

We may, ourselves, experience struggles within our own families, especially as college students returning home for an extended break during the holidays. The Holy Family provides us with a perfect model of trust and love. In all that we do we are called to trust in God’s promises and His will, just like Mary’s “yes,” especially as we proclaim the Kingdom of God to our loved ones around us in our simple words and actions and to those we do not yet know, as Jesus taught people in the temple as a child while his parents searched for several days to find their son.

Today we are the ones searching; we hope to find serenity and love in our busy, worldly lives. Again and again God calls us to trust. As beloved adopted sons and daughters we are a part of this holy family. All we need to do is to run to the arms which once held Jesus close in tender and loving embraces, as a child and also after the crucifixion, as our salvation was won for all of us.

God Bless you and your families this holiday season.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Blessings

I have the most amazing friends ever! I received a Christmas card from Sister Josie today, and everything she has to say is so beautiful! I become full of joy whenever I read anything from her! It was such a blessing to grow closer to her last year, but this year we can also grow together in our faith through prayer and being united in the Eucharist, but also through the letters we exchange. PS: Sister Josie is a postulant for the Nashville Dominican Sisters.

Tonight I went to the Great Hunan with friends, and at first I thought it was going to be only 7 of us, but then three other friends also decided to join us, it was spectacular! One of my friends I haven't seen for quite some time, so it was great to share a meal with him. And of course the food was delicious!

I go home tomorrow... that's so weird! It seems like I was just home for Thanksgiving break. It'll be a nice break though, no more philosophy! Praise God! I'll read books that I want to read! And I get to work on lesson plans for a "mini-course" I'm teaching for religious ed. The Catholic Churches in Winona have partnered up and offer city-wide rel. ed. classes that the students can choose which topics to go to. So this course is only 6 weeks long, piece of cake! I hope anyway.

Ok, I have three more pages to finish of this Kant paper, and I want to be done with this class, so I need to finish it!

Our Lady of the Streets, Pray for us!

mmm Jazz

Sometimes I could just sit and listen to jazz all day long! It just moves the mind and the soul! I was attempting to finish up a paper for my Moral Theory class on the examined life, but I think I've been getting caught up in the music! I'll finalize the paper later, I still need about one more page, blah! Anyway, soon I'm going to head to the chapel for some nice prayer time, since it is Sunday after all! Lately I have been reading the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, and I simply love it! The words come alive and are so pertinent to my own life as well. Plus it is great for the Advent season!

I've been slowly able to get over my anger and hurt from what I wrote about in my last blog. A friend commented on it, and though I did not read the comment until today, it is so true. Thank you John! I have some wonderful friends who are so joy-filled and inspirational; no stupid comment can get in the way of my true friendships. God has blessed me with so many new friendships this year, or even getting to know people better. My three roommates and I have grown so close this past semester, and I absolutely love being goofy with them and laughing. Last night after a small attempt at the previously mentioned paper, Hannah came into the family room and we talked and laughed for probably an hour! It was a great way to end my Saturday night.

Today is Gaudete Sunday, whoo hoo! It is time to rejoice and praise God for the gift of joy prevalent in my life. Only one week and a day left of Advent; crazy, huh? Alright, time to get going to the chapel.

I am so mad! I usually don't use blogs to vent anger... but tonight I feel it has to come out. AHHHH So, I learned that some seminarians think that I (and two other friends) always have crushes on seminarians. I talked to one I knew wouldn't think this, and who kinda leaked the info out (except the names), and he said it's because of my (our) reputation. We hang out with seminarians a lot, so clearly that must mean we're trying to get one of them out. AH I could scream. Praise be that this friend does not believe this. He said by knowing who I am, he knows this is NOT the case. duh! People hang out with their "group" of friends based on common interests and beliefs, and clearly we're all Catholic, which is a huge part of our lives. I enjoy being able to talk about faith and the Church, and with other people, you just can't do that with others who don't express the same passions.

It's really hurtful that someone would think this about myself and my friends. Is this the reason why one of our "friends" won't hang out with us anymore? AH that is so stupid. I think they need a dropkick of humility. AND they need to flippin talk to us about it, instead of gossiping like little school girls with other guys in the house. I thank God that I have at least one guy who defends us. I need to stop dwelling on this, although it will be difficult. Prayers would be nice, thank you.