Blog

In Omaha - at Creighton University and the Institute for Priestly Formation

Most of the remainder of this summer, I will be in Omaha, Nebraska, participating in the Institute for Priestly Formation. This is the first time in eight years that I won't be able to participate in Kenrick-Glennon Days, and I also won't be producing a video for it (though I hear someone else back in St. Louis will be!). The weather is comfortable here in Omaha, and we are about to begin our eight day silent retreat. I will be checking in from time to time, and I still can receive emails (though not during the next eight days!).

One thing that amazes me is how beautiful and immaculate the university's soccer field is; I walked by it yesterday, and it was like looking at a sea of soft green grass, with perfect lines, just waiting for me to run around on the field. I wish the Seminary had a field like that! Here's a picture of the very nice St. John's Church, located on-campus, just across from the dormitory I'm staying in:

2008 Saint Louis Archdiocesan Priesthood Ordination Mass - UPDATED!

I have posted my pictures from the 2008 Saint Louis Archdiocesan Priesthood Ordination that was held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis earlier today. Here's the final group shot of all the nine new priests:

2008 Saint Louis Priests and Archbishop Raymond Burke  

You can find all the pictures here, but not all were taken by me. Some were taken by my brother seminarian, Ray (same first name as the Archbishop!). The Mass progressed from the opening prayers and the Liturgy of the Word to the Rite of Ordination, which took a little longer than usual, due to the very large number of men to be ordained; this group is the largest for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis since 1988!

Pictures and Reflections from Papal Audience with Youth and Seminarians [UPDATED]

Well, at long last, here is the posting I promised earlier. I'll begin with our morning Mass:

The Morning

Kenrick-Glennon Seminarians at Mass

After departing from the hotel, all the 100+ seminarians from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary went over to Archbishop Stepinac High School for Mass; the chapel was very nice, especially considering how little room for decoration there was. We then proceeded to the Yonkers raceway, which was converted from a raceway into a large parking lot full of charter busses and youth waiting to be ferried over to St. Joseph's Seminary (also called Dunwoodie).

At the Seminary

On the Bus Again... Just Saw the Pope!

(Note: I wrote this posting on the bus, but only recently was able to post it to the blog due to a lack of Internet access...) I'm back on a bus again, and just three hours ago I was saying hello to Pope Benedict along with around 25,000 seminarians, religious, priests and youth at the Youth and Seminarian Rally at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. I don't have the time (or the energy) to work on all the pictures right now (including pictures of all the performers on stage before the Pope's arrival), but I will post them all as soon as I can. For now, please pray for a timely and safe return for al those travelling back home today.

I'm in New York! — Meanwhile... Earthquakes in St. Louis?

I just arrived in White Plains, New York, after the longest bus ride of my life! It was not uneventful, however; halfway through the trip, we learned that there were earthquakes in southern Illinois, and they were even felt in St. Louis! I didn't know moving all the seminarians out of St. Louis and through Illinois would create such a movement of the Holy Spirit!

About two hours ago all the Seminarians from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, along with all the pilgrims from the Saint Louis Archdiocese, attended Mass with Archbishop Burke at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in New Jersey. I was able to take just a few pictures of the Mass:

The Pope is Visiting the US...

...and I'm stuck in a classroom today...

Pope Benedict XVI's Papal Visit

But that's fine with me; all 100+ seminarians from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis will be visiting Pope Benedict XVI during his first pastoral visit as the Successor to St. Peter when he attends the youth and seminarian gathering in New York on Saturday. I will be bringing my camera, and I hope to be posting pictures and observations following the event (to the extent that's possible!).

Now, if only I could divine what the weather will be like on Saturday, so I can decide whether to wear my 'summertime' cassock or my 'year-rounder,' that would be nice.

2008 Acolyte Installation Mass

2008 Acolyte Installation Mass