Gratitude

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This week, Dan arrived in Rome for early orientation. There are now three Phoenix seminarians studying at the North American College in Rome.

I and 16 other guys from my year in seminary spent the last week with Dan and 49 other seminarians showing them around Rome and making them feel welcome to their new seminary. This week -- that we call "Early Orientation" -- we showed the New Men around to different major sites in Rome and introduced them to life at the NAC. Seeing this new set of seminarians going through the same surreal transition that I went through a year ago reminded me of what it felt like when I first arrived. There was a lot of excitement for the new experiences to come. There was some nervousness about being immersed in a new culture and having to learn a new language.

Another familiar face came along with Dan: my good friend Michael from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in New Mexico. We entered seminary the same year and studied together at the Josephinum for three years. It was a lot of fun to be reunited to two old friends. And so the gratitude begins: I am very grateful to have them around again and I look forward spending my second year in Rome with them.

In telling the new men stories of my experiences and giving them a heads up on what to expect in the coming year, I had the chance to reflect on the whole year I just completed abroad. There are so many things to be thankful for and so many things that I feel appreciate all the more looking back on them. With a grateful heart for another year in formation for the priesthood, I look forward to what the Lord has in store for us next year.


I ask for your prayers as I head to Calcutta, India tomorrow. I am going in India for a total of 6 weeks with three other seminarians from the NAC. We will be serving with the Missionaries of Charity for 4 weeks in Calcutta, then doing a retreat in India and visiting some sites around the country (such as the church where St. Thomas the Apostle is buried and the sites where St. Francis Xavier visited as a missionary). I should have access to the internet, so I plan on giving an update while I am in India. Until then, know that the Diocese of Phoenix, Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Glendale, and many of you by name will be in my prayers at the tomb of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta. 

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!

Don't Forget to Bring the Marshmallows

Well I am almost half way done with my time in Antigua already and, after the first week, it has flown. The natural beauty of the country is constantly astounding me and has been a powerful compliment to the beauty of the churches in Rome. In both places these amazing sights stand giving testament and praise to the strength and mind of God in which, through His love, He concieved all these amazing things.

 Moreover he placed within us the cpacity to understand these things; that is, we understand that they represent a mystery beyond what we can grasp, perpetually pointing beyond themselves. And yet it is not a mystery that provokes fear becuase of it overwhelming size compared to us, but it envokes joy for the infinite greatness and life that we can enter into.





 Recently, I took the oportunity to hike one of the nearby volcanos, and what an expirience. All I could think of during the hike was when I learned about volcanos in elementary school. I remeber thinking how cool they were, but the possiblity of every climbing one never even crossed my mind. Yet there I was drawing near to this monument of creation's mysteries. It seemed only right and just that when we got as high as we were allowed to go, to roast some marshmallows to mark the solemnity of the occasion.

This has really been what my time in seminary has been like. I had long heard of the great things God does and the gifts he gives to those faithful to him. Yet these thing seemed so far off, good things that God gives to others, of which I am just content to read. But the small descision to enter the seminary, to give God the chance to do with me what He wills, has opened to me so much more that I have every dreamed of. Almost without me even being aware of it he has taken me on a great adventure to show me these great mysteries He works in the world and in the hearts of men.

 From the amazing testimony of the Church in the U.S. to the great cityof Rome and the cities of the rest of Europe, and final to the amazing views of Guatemala, I have been climbing a volcano the heights of which I hadn't even imagined. And all along the way and foremost at its peaks is the heat and fire of God's love. 

Continuing the hike, I look ahead to the burst of flame of His grace that is the priesthood and the possiblity of so many things I haven't even thought of. The challenge is to remember to pop open the marshmallows every so often and celebrate the grandeur of the msytery.

Proprio Italiano

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While Kevin is in Guatemala studying Spanish, I find myself in a small Italian town called San Giovanni Rotondo: population around 27,000; not a soul speaks English.

I'm living with an wonderful Italian family [Pictured above... photo is from when Kevin and I and a mutual seminarian friend made a weekend trip in May]. Again, no one speaks English so the experience is strengthening my Italian a quick pace.

San Giovanni Rotondo is the town where St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) lived, died, and was buried. One can visit the old church were he celebrated Mass, a bigger church he commissioned (above-right), the hospital he founded (above-left), and a huge new basilica where he is buried. There is a great devotion to Padre Pio among the people. Many of the more elderly folks have vivid memories of Padre Pio's life and have many stories to share.

The town still has a friendly small town feel -- despite the daily influx of pilgrms -- since the basilica is located up the mountain, far enough away from the center of town. Every night during the summertime, nearly the whole town goes out for a stroll up and down the small historic road in the center of town. Young families with babies, elderly folks, teenagers, young adults... it's what everybody does to enjoy each others company and the cooler evening temperature.

All the food is fresh and local. The buffalo make the best mozzarella cheese I've ever had. The countryside is gorgeous. The people a very generous and hospitable. All this is icing on the cake, however. The experience of learning amount a completely different way of life from what I've always known back in Phoenix is truly priceless. It definitely not easy. It demands a lot of patience and humility. Two virtues I can never have enough of.