An update...and memories from 2013!!
Realizing that my blogging has become far and few between, I thought I could fix that...
First, The "Happenings"---what I've been up to---in a somewhat brief style:
I've been back in the States for a little over 3 weeks---and man has that time flown! The first 3 days I was back were great days spent mainly with my mom. We went to daily Mass and then did errands, went out to eat, visited my Grammie...and other cool things like that.
On Saturday June 18, I was blessed to attend the priestly ordination of Fr. Matthew Rensch of the Diocese of Burlington. Fr. Matt and I have lived on the same hall at NAC for the past 3 years, so it was a great joy to see him ordained a deacon back in the fall at St. Peter's as well as a priest on his home turf. There were several NAC faces present at the ordination and reception and it was fun to just spend time with them.
After our Father's Day cookout Sunday, I prepared for the Boston Seminarian Retreat up in Kennebunkport, ME. It's a light few days---some conferences, time for prayer and relaxation and being with (a majority of) the other Boston seminarians that I don't get to see from September-June.
Thursday 6/23 (my dad's birthday!), I flew out to Green Bay for the priestly ordination of Fr. Scott Valentyn, (I can remember first meeting Fr. Scott when he was one of the 2nd year men who led Early Orientation my New Man Year in 2013). It was also "killing two birds with one stone" because I was hosted by one of my closest friends Mark and his family, so I got to spend a lot of time with him and his family, meeting his siblings/nephew, and then a huge family gathering of his dad's side where I got to meet a lot of people and have some tasty Czech food! It was a great, busy but also relaxing few days after a hectic Third Theology year...
But, back to the other reason I was iN GB:The ordination! It was beautiful...I was very moved when Bp. Ricken said to the two men being ordained (and I'm paraphrasing of course) "Jesus doesn't need you to be His priests...but He chooses you to be one. And from this day until the end of time, He refuses to let the mission of His Church continue without you as His priests." It was very moving!
My flight back to Boston was delayed, so I didn't get in until 11:45 pm Monday 6/27, and drove back home...woke up in the morning went to Mass, packed some stuff, visited Grammie, lunch with Mom, Aunt Marguerite and Aunt Connie and then off to IC Marlborough I went!
I've been back in the parish for a little over a week now---and it has been great to be back! God willing, this is my last summer before priestly ordination, and He knows that---so situations that I didn't face last summer have come up this summer---I'm attributing it to God letting me see how the priests I'm with respond to the situation so I can take mental note and reflect upon how I would've handle that situation.
Sunday begins our 8 day long Confirmation Boot Camp, an alternative program to the usual once a week Religious Education class. We've got 26/27 teens signed up to attend! The Director of Ongoing Faith Formation and I have worked long and hard to come up a program that allows the teens to encounter Christ while discussing the importance of Confirmation, belonging to the Church (not just in Marlborough, but realizing the universality of the Church), serving Christ by service to the poor, realizing our personal call to holiness and how God has a vocation for each of us...and anything in between! It'll be a long week, but we're hopeful it will be a success! Please pray for the team and the teens---that the team may transmit the Truths of the faith and help the teens encounter Christ either for the first time, or in a more profound way, and that the teens may be docile and open to the lessons we are teaching them and may come to a greater appreciation for their faith.
I can blog today because I am filling in for the parish secretary for the day, and so far it's been relatively quiet, only a handful of phone calls and a couple of people showing up at the door...
Off to the next section!
---------
I'm thinking a lot this week about July 14, 2013, the day me and 55 of my newest classmates departed the United States as the "New Men Class of 2017". This is from July 15, the morning we arrived: "Sono Arrivato".
I am thinking so much about my departure day because TODAY, the New Men Class of 2020 departs for Rome and their Early Orientation! So, their departure is making me remember the emotions of that day so vividly: anxiety as to what lay ahead, excitement for where God was leading me, fear that I wouldn't make friends/fit in, trust that God was putting me in Rome for a reason (and as my sister wisely pointed out in the middle of my New Man year---the reason wasn't so that I wasn't in Boston!).
So...here's The "reflection":
The past three years of formation at the North American College have been filled with much grace. Priestly formation shouldn't be easy, it should be uncomfortable and challenging at times as I learn to die to myself so that Christ's will can be done in my life. At other times formation can be fun and rewarding, as you approach different milestones (receiving Ministry of Lector, Ministry of Acolyte, petitioning your Bishop for Holy Orders...), when you engage others in the faith (either brothers in the house in theological discussions, or when you're out at your apostolates teaching the faith to believers and sometimes non-believers alike).
The friendships I've made over the past 3 years have been with some of the most virtuous men I've ever met in my life. The friendships God has blessed me with are solid, since they have as a foundation Jesus Christ. We are all seeking to be the holiest, healthiest, happiest , most prayerful men we can be so that we can approach the Altar confident in our calling and answer "Present" when our names are called to present ourselves for Holy Orders.
Most people know I accepted the invitation on behalf of my Bishop to study in Rome, and then subsequently had many moments of doubt "did I make the right choice?", "what if I'm supposed to stay in Boston for seminary?", etc...however, I got on the plane. I went to the Eternal City. After a period of homesickness and desolation, and questioning God many times if I truly belonged in Rome, I received that sage advice from my sister Julianne. I decided that I couldn't be physically present in Rome but have my heart back in Boston...so I brought my heart across the pond, and that has made all the difference.
After fully investing myself to life in Rome, a serene peace came into my heart and I've forged ahead ever since. I don't regret the "rough" time I had in transitioning, because that was a part of why I grew. If I had just picked up at NAC as if I were still at St. John's, and never acknowledged the difficulties in transitioning to a new country, learning a new language, making new friends, etc...I wouldn't have had those purifying moments that God knew I needed in my life. There wouldn't have been certain friendships formed (guys who checked in on me frequently, knowing how homesick I was, guys who were also going through a rough time, albeit not as vocally as mine was!)
At the end of my New Man year (Summer 2014), I had come so "full circle" in my transition, that I joyfully and enthusiastically joined the Early Orientation team, because I wanted to welcome my new "younger brothers" to the house and to the Eternal City, and give witness to what God will do if we trust.
This past year there was another New Man Class (2019) welcomed, and I found myself forging several friendships with men in that class that are also solid and Christ-centered. Being an "upperclassman" this past year was different, as it's been the first time since College (but really high school) that I've been one of the "oldest" classes.
To watch the rising 2nd year men in their New Man year at NAC, and to in some small way have contributed to their growth and experience in Rome was a blessing and honor. And so this week I have been praying often for this past year's New Men (Class of 2019), my younger brothers, as they prepare to welcome our newest "younger brothers" to the house, and especially for the New Men Class of 2020 as they are en route TODAY to their new lives in the Eternal City.
I invite you to join me in praying for the Class of 2020 as they transition, as well as the Class of 2019 as they lead our newest brothers in their first days living in Rome. Let us ask the protection of Our Lady, under the title "Our Lady of Humility", patroness of the North American College.
Sia laudato Gesù!
--Kpl
First, The "Happenings"---what I've been up to---in a somewhat brief style:
I've been back in the States for a little over 3 weeks---and man has that time flown! The first 3 days I was back were great days spent mainly with my mom. We went to daily Mass and then did errands, went out to eat, visited my Grammie...and other cool things like that.
On Saturday June 18, I was blessed to attend the priestly ordination of Fr. Matthew Rensch of the Diocese of Burlington. Fr. Matt and I have lived on the same hall at NAC for the past 3 years, so it was a great joy to see him ordained a deacon back in the fall at St. Peter's as well as a priest on his home turf. There were several NAC faces present at the ordination and reception and it was fun to just spend time with them.
After our Father's Day cookout Sunday, I prepared for the Boston Seminarian Retreat up in Kennebunkport, ME. It's a light few days---some conferences, time for prayer and relaxation and being with (a majority of) the other Boston seminarians that I don't get to see from September-June.
Thursday 6/23 (my dad's birthday!), I flew out to Green Bay for the priestly ordination of Fr. Scott Valentyn, (I can remember first meeting Fr. Scott when he was one of the 2nd year men who led Early Orientation my New Man Year in 2013). It was also "killing two birds with one stone" because I was hosted by one of my closest friends Mark and his family, so I got to spend a lot of time with him and his family, meeting his siblings/nephew, and then a huge family gathering of his dad's side where I got to meet a lot of people and have some tasty Czech food! It was a great, busy but also relaxing few days after a hectic Third Theology year...
But, back to the other reason I was iN GB:The ordination! It was beautiful...I was very moved when Bp. Ricken said to the two men being ordained (and I'm paraphrasing of course) "Jesus doesn't need you to be His priests...but He chooses you to be one. And from this day until the end of time, He refuses to let the mission of His Church continue without you as His priests." It was very moving!
My flight back to Boston was delayed, so I didn't get in until 11:45 pm Monday 6/27, and drove back home...woke up in the morning went to Mass, packed some stuff, visited Grammie, lunch with Mom, Aunt Marguerite and Aunt Connie and then off to IC Marlborough I went!
I've been back in the parish for a little over a week now---and it has been great to be back! God willing, this is my last summer before priestly ordination, and He knows that---so situations that I didn't face last summer have come up this summer---I'm attributing it to God letting me see how the priests I'm with respond to the situation so I can take mental note and reflect upon how I would've handle that situation.
Sunday begins our 8 day long Confirmation Boot Camp, an alternative program to the usual once a week Religious Education class. We've got 26/27 teens signed up to attend! The Director of Ongoing Faith Formation and I have worked long and hard to come up a program that allows the teens to encounter Christ while discussing the importance of Confirmation, belonging to the Church (not just in Marlborough, but realizing the universality of the Church), serving Christ by service to the poor, realizing our personal call to holiness and how God has a vocation for each of us...and anything in between! It'll be a long week, but we're hopeful it will be a success! Please pray for the team and the teens---that the team may transmit the Truths of the faith and help the teens encounter Christ either for the first time, or in a more profound way, and that the teens may be docile and open to the lessons we are teaching them and may come to a greater appreciation for their faith.
I can blog today because I am filling in for the parish secretary for the day, and so far it's been relatively quiet, only a handful of phone calls and a couple of people showing up at the door...
Off to the next section!
---------
I'm thinking a lot this week about July 14, 2013, the day me and 55 of my newest classmates departed the United States as the "New Men Class of 2017". This is from July 15, the morning we arrived: "Sono Arrivato".
I am thinking so much about my departure day because TODAY, the New Men Class of 2020 departs for Rome and their Early Orientation! So, their departure is making me remember the emotions of that day so vividly: anxiety as to what lay ahead, excitement for where God was leading me, fear that I wouldn't make friends/fit in, trust that God was putting me in Rome for a reason (and as my sister wisely pointed out in the middle of my New Man year---the reason wasn't so that I wasn't in Boston!).
So...here's The "reflection":
The past three years of formation at the North American College have been filled with much grace. Priestly formation shouldn't be easy, it should be uncomfortable and challenging at times as I learn to die to myself so that Christ's will can be done in my life. At other times formation can be fun and rewarding, as you approach different milestones (receiving Ministry of Lector, Ministry of Acolyte, petitioning your Bishop for Holy Orders...), when you engage others in the faith (either brothers in the house in theological discussions, or when you're out at your apostolates teaching the faith to believers and sometimes non-believers alike).
The friendships I've made over the past 3 years have been with some of the most virtuous men I've ever met in my life. The friendships God has blessed me with are solid, since they have as a foundation Jesus Christ. We are all seeking to be the holiest, healthiest, happiest , most prayerful men we can be so that we can approach the Altar confident in our calling and answer "Present" when our names are called to present ourselves for Holy Orders.
Most people know I accepted the invitation on behalf of my Bishop to study in Rome, and then subsequently had many moments of doubt "did I make the right choice?", "what if I'm supposed to stay in Boston for seminary?", etc...however, I got on the plane. I went to the Eternal City. After a period of homesickness and desolation, and questioning God many times if I truly belonged in Rome, I received that sage advice from my sister Julianne. I decided that I couldn't be physically present in Rome but have my heart back in Boston...so I brought my heart across the pond, and that has made all the difference.
After fully investing myself to life in Rome, a serene peace came into my heart and I've forged ahead ever since. I don't regret the "rough" time I had in transitioning, because that was a part of why I grew. If I had just picked up at NAC as if I were still at St. John's, and never acknowledged the difficulties in transitioning to a new country, learning a new language, making new friends, etc...I wouldn't have had those purifying moments that God knew I needed in my life. There wouldn't have been certain friendships formed (guys who checked in on me frequently, knowing how homesick I was, guys who were also going through a rough time, albeit not as vocally as mine was!)
At the end of my New Man year (Summer 2014), I had come so "full circle" in my transition, that I joyfully and enthusiastically joined the Early Orientation team, because I wanted to welcome my new "younger brothers" to the house and to the Eternal City, and give witness to what God will do if we trust.
This past year there was another New Man Class (2019) welcomed, and I found myself forging several friendships with men in that class that are also solid and Christ-centered. Being an "upperclassman" this past year was different, as it's been the first time since College (but really high school) that I've been one of the "oldest" classes.
To watch the rising 2nd year men in their New Man year at NAC, and to in some small way have contributed to their growth and experience in Rome was a blessing and honor. And so this week I have been praying often for this past year's New Men (Class of 2019), my younger brothers, as they prepare to welcome our newest "younger brothers" to the house, and especially for the New Men Class of 2020 as they are en route TODAY to their new lives in the Eternal City.
I invite you to join me in praying for the Class of 2020 as they transition, as well as the Class of 2019 as they lead our newest brothers in their first days living in Rome. Let us ask the protection of Our Lady, under the title "Our Lady of Humility", patroness of the North American College.
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Our Lady of Humility, pray for us!
Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!
Sia laudato Gesù!
--Kpl
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