Tempus Fugit...
Well---I'm now about a week into the new semester---my last semester of seminary formation, so I figured a quick update is needed.
I can't believe we're under 3 months from Priestly Ordination!! In August 2011 this day seemed so far off, and now it's right around the corner! (Last night after vesting for Evening Prayer I realized I won't ever wear the Ordinary Green Deacon Stole/Dalmatic again, because ordination is in the Easter season...and with Lent beginning on Wednesday, days of Green are numbered---and I'm not on the liturgical schedule until after Ash Wednesday!)
Though in 2011 this day seemed so far away, the past almost 6 years of priestly formation have really flown by. There have been many challenges and struggles in seminary/community life, but they are far outweighed by the blessings, great memories and life long brotherhoods created. Although I'm looking forward with joy, some natural nervousness, and gratitude, I'm going to do my best to keep myself in the present moment!
From Jan. 20 after classes ended until this past Sunday 2/19 we were in "Exam Mode", which is a heightened period of study and a severe lessening of the house schedule. My courses for first semester were pretty straight forward, and it was interesting re-visiting the course material before the exams. The past semester I took: Introduction to Spirituality, Pedagogical Dimensions of Ignatian Spirituality, The Light of Faith and its Dynamism in the Life of the Believer, Spiritual Direction, The Holy Spirit in the Spiritual Life, History of Spirituality in 15/16th centuries and a seminar called "Ignatian Sources" where we learned how to do research in the Society of Jesus archives and present on a certain topic (mine and my partner's was on a letter written by St. Peter Faber regarding engaging in discussions with protestants).
Exams went well, and I was pleased with my marks!After I finished my exams on Thursday 2/9 I then had a week before classes resumed on 2/20...so I made my Canonical Retreat at Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland. (Fun fact: it's the northernmost Benedictine Abbey in the world...on the same parallel as one of the Alaskan islands!)
The Canonical Retreat is required by the Law of the Church before a man assumes a new office in the Church (e.g. Diaconate Ordination and Priestly Ordination)...so it is an intensified time of listening to my Beloved and being in a deeper communion with Him as I prepare for this next, (huge and final) step in my vocation to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
I'll keep my thoughts form the retreat interior, so it'll suffice to say that the Lord never fails to show His love and goodness and mercy and peace to those who seek Him with all their hearts. Thank you Jesus! Thank you, Jesus for that time spent with You!
Here are some pictures from the Abbey as well as from my walks in the woods surrounding the Abbey and along the Moray Coast Trail in Hopeman, a town about 15 min drive from the Abbey.
As I said, this past Monday 2/20 Second Semester began. It's a full course load and will be pretty busy, but it'll be interesting. My course load for this semester is:
The Trinity in Johannine Writings, The Passion of Christ and the Christian Meaning of Suffering, Spiritual Direction and Vocation Discernment of Youth, Justice "Versus" Mercy, The Spirituality of the Patriarchs, Ignatian Spirituality (of the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus), Christian Prayer and a practicum "Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Counseling Techniques"---based off the course "Spiritual Direction" I took last semester.
As I've gotten further into theology studies, my time for blogging has lessened, and this semester will be no different. I do hope to update once or twice more before an event in May ;-)
As always, your thoughts, prayers, emails, letters etc are always so encouraging to me as I inch ever closer to the Altar! Know of mine for you!
Until next time,
Praised be Jesus Christ...
--kpl
I can't believe we're under 3 months from Priestly Ordination!! In August 2011 this day seemed so far off, and now it's right around the corner! (Last night after vesting for Evening Prayer I realized I won't ever wear the Ordinary Green Deacon Stole/Dalmatic again, because ordination is in the Easter season...and with Lent beginning on Wednesday, days of Green are numbered---and I'm not on the liturgical schedule until after Ash Wednesday!)
Though in 2011 this day seemed so far away, the past almost 6 years of priestly formation have really flown by. There have been many challenges and struggles in seminary/community life, but they are far outweighed by the blessings, great memories and life long brotherhoods created. Although I'm looking forward with joy, some natural nervousness, and gratitude, I'm going to do my best to keep myself in the present moment!
From Jan. 20 after classes ended until this past Sunday 2/19 we were in "Exam Mode", which is a heightened period of study and a severe lessening of the house schedule. My courses for first semester were pretty straight forward, and it was interesting re-visiting the course material before the exams. The past semester I took: Introduction to Spirituality, Pedagogical Dimensions of Ignatian Spirituality, The Light of Faith and its Dynamism in the Life of the Believer, Spiritual Direction, The Holy Spirit in the Spiritual Life, History of Spirituality in 15/16th centuries and a seminar called "Ignatian Sources" where we learned how to do research in the Society of Jesus archives and present on a certain topic (mine and my partner's was on a letter written by St. Peter Faber regarding engaging in discussions with protestants).
Exams went well, and I was pleased with my marks!After I finished my exams on Thursday 2/9 I then had a week before classes resumed on 2/20...so I made my Canonical Retreat at Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland. (Fun fact: it's the northernmost Benedictine Abbey in the world...on the same parallel as one of the Alaskan islands!)
The Canonical Retreat is required by the Law of the Church before a man assumes a new office in the Church (e.g. Diaconate Ordination and Priestly Ordination)...so it is an intensified time of listening to my Beloved and being in a deeper communion with Him as I prepare for this next, (huge and final) step in my vocation to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
I'll keep my thoughts form the retreat interior, so it'll suffice to say that the Lord never fails to show His love and goodness and mercy and peace to those who seek Him with all their hearts. Thank you Jesus! Thank you, Jesus for that time spent with You!
Here are some pictures from the Abbey as well as from my walks in the woods surrounding the Abbey and along the Moray Coast Trail in Hopeman, a town about 15 min drive from the Abbey.
As I said, this past Monday 2/20 Second Semester began. It's a full course load and will be pretty busy, but it'll be interesting. My course load for this semester is:
The Trinity in Johannine Writings, The Passion of Christ and the Christian Meaning of Suffering, Spiritual Direction and Vocation Discernment of Youth, Justice "Versus" Mercy, The Spirituality of the Patriarchs, Ignatian Spirituality (of the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus), Christian Prayer and a practicum "Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Counseling Techniques"---based off the course "Spiritual Direction" I took last semester.
As I've gotten further into theology studies, my time for blogging has lessened, and this semester will be no different. I do hope to update once or twice more before an event in May ;-)
As always, your thoughts, prayers, emails, letters etc are always so encouraging to me as I inch ever closer to the Altar! Know of mine for you!
Until next time,
Praised be Jesus Christ...
--kpl
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