"Family is the essence that helps define our very identity."
"Family means believing, loving, and supporting each other."
These two quotes appear on a picture frame that Brian and Nichole sent me for Christmas, in which is framed a picture of the six of us from Brian and Nichole's wedding day. My room has been decidedly lacking in pictures of family since I moved into the Novitiate over 4 months ago, so I was very grateful to receive this gift from them, as a reminder of my family back home in Albuquerque, whom I miss very much!
But as I looked at the picture, and began to think, I realized that not only are these two quotes true about my blood family- they are also true about another family that I have been blessed to be part of for over 2 years now- my Basilian Family. I realized that this was especially true at Christmas time, when celebrating Christmas with the Novitiate community. It was at our Christmas Eve Celebration that it first hit me that the Basilian Community is also my family, a thought that was re-affirmed when we went to help with check in for the Basilian Summit being held this weekend in Dickinson, TX. The feeling that I had seeing many of the Basilians I have met before, or lived with before, or even meeting Priests I have never met before is almost the same feeling I have when re-connecting with blood family after being apart for a long time. It is an amazing feeling to be able to look across a room, and see what makes everyone gathered there Basilian, and to know that we are all united as brothers by the work we share, and the life we live.
That doesn't mean that this life is without it's challenges, because Religious Communities have the same problems that families have-personality conflicts, people who drive us crazy, and so on (Insert remark about crazy Uncle ______ or Aunt ______ here)... but the Challenge of Religious Life (and of family life too!) is to learn to live in a way in which we are beacons of Christ's love, and we strive to show that love, and the joy that is a life fully alive in Christ to others. It's not easy, but with The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as our model, we can strive to more perfectly emulate the love of the family to one another- not only in our blood families, or for some of us, in our Religious Congregations, but across the entire Christian family of believers.
Today, I had the opportunity to attend the opening Mass for the Centennial Celebration of Holy Family Parish not too far from where I live here in Sugar Land. This Parish is easily one of the most eclectic parishes in the entire Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and the Mass was truly a reflection of that diversity. Some of the languages used at various parts of the Mass were Italian, Tagalog, French, Spanish, English, Ibo, Czech, and a few others I'm sure I've forgotten. It was a true testament to the Universality of the Christian Faith. Even though we may speak different languages, or come from different cultures, or countries, we are all one family in Jesus Christ. And it is a beautiful thing indeed when we can all put aside our differences, and come together to worship the One true God. Hopefully that is an Ideal that I can continue to work to realize, especially as I continue my journey with the Basilians.
And on this day, may all families, both spiritual, and blood families, be blessed. And may we always strive to be beacons of love to all families that we are blessed to be a part of.. Amen.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
What do you really desire?
"The key to getting what you desire is to desire the right things."
Fr. Edmund McCorkell, C.S.B.
The above quote is on one of the Vocation Posters that hangs in the Basilian Novitiate House. I've glanced at this poster so many times in the three plus months I've been here, but the other day, this quote really struck me, and it got me thinking: What do I really desire in life?
Of course, it's easy to think that I desire all the right things, that I'm doing God's will by journeying towards Priesthood, and that doing God's will is all that I am desiring in my life. But, quite frankly, I know that just isn't so.
There are still times that I catch myself thinking about what it would be like to have a family, what I would be doing if I had continued to teach choir, and many other things that are different than where I am right now. Am I really doing God's will if I am longing for something else while journeying towards Priesthood?
As I've given this some thought, I've come to realize that, sad as it is, this is normal. Because humans are not perfect (even though many times we like to think we are) We constantly must remind ourselves of our need for God in this life, so that we may dwell forever with Him in the next. We must constantly re-commit our selves to being Disciples of Christ, and we must constantly keep forsaking the ways of the world.
But what a task this is! If only we could have the faith of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar that Jesus heals as He is headed to Jerusalem. Mark's Gospel tells us that when Jesus called to him, he immediately threw aside his cloak, and ran to Jesus (no small feat for a blind man!) And when his sight was restored, he followed Jesus without a second thought, even though Jesus had told him that he could go wherever he wanted to.
This is where our desires must lie- With Bartimaeus as our example, may we put our sole desire in God, and learn to trust him. How much more will God give us if we fully desire him alone, and we don't keep looking for worldly happiness, which fades like the setting sun? God does not want us to be unhappy. God is Love, and his love for us is the greatest gift we could ever wish for. I cannot begin to explain how different my life is now that I am in the Novitiate. I am united to the people of God in a way that I never thought was possible- and when I really start to think about that, I thank God that he has blessed me in such a way.
As we begin this joy-filled season of Advent, I urge you all to count your blessings, and to thank God for them. And share some of that joy with others! It's the best way to make a difference in someone's life. And may God bless you during this most holy Advent and Christmas season!
Fr. Edmund McCorkell, C.S.B.
The above quote is on one of the Vocation Posters that hangs in the Basilian Novitiate House. I've glanced at this poster so many times in the three plus months I've been here, but the other day, this quote really struck me, and it got me thinking: What do I really desire in life?
Of course, it's easy to think that I desire all the right things, that I'm doing God's will by journeying towards Priesthood, and that doing God's will is all that I am desiring in my life. But, quite frankly, I know that just isn't so.
There are still times that I catch myself thinking about what it would be like to have a family, what I would be doing if I had continued to teach choir, and many other things that are different than where I am right now. Am I really doing God's will if I am longing for something else while journeying towards Priesthood?
As I've given this some thought, I've come to realize that, sad as it is, this is normal. Because humans are not perfect (even though many times we like to think we are) We constantly must remind ourselves of our need for God in this life, so that we may dwell forever with Him in the next. We must constantly re-commit our selves to being Disciples of Christ, and we must constantly keep forsaking the ways of the world.
But what a task this is! If only we could have the faith of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar that Jesus heals as He is headed to Jerusalem. Mark's Gospel tells us that when Jesus called to him, he immediately threw aside his cloak, and ran to Jesus (no small feat for a blind man!) And when his sight was restored, he followed Jesus without a second thought, even though Jesus had told him that he could go wherever he wanted to.
This is where our desires must lie- With Bartimaeus as our example, may we put our sole desire in God, and learn to trust him. How much more will God give us if we fully desire him alone, and we don't keep looking for worldly happiness, which fades like the setting sun? God does not want us to be unhappy. God is Love, and his love for us is the greatest gift we could ever wish for. I cannot begin to explain how different my life is now that I am in the Novitiate. I am united to the people of God in a way that I never thought was possible- and when I really start to think about that, I thank God that he has blessed me in such a way.
As we begin this joy-filled season of Advent, I urge you all to count your blessings, and to thank God for them. And share some of that joy with others! It's the best way to make a difference in someone's life. And may God bless you during this most holy Advent and Christmas season!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
What is meant by "God's will?"
We hear a lot of talk in our society about God's will- especially as we draw closer to the November elections. We hear people saying things like "It is God's will that Obamacare will be overturned!" or "God told me I needed to run for office so that His will may be done in this country!"
So what exactly is God's will? Will in it's simplest sense is defined as a wish or desire. So therefore we can conclude that God's will makes up the sum of the wishes and desires for us, His people. Simple, right? On the surface, yes, but there is much more to it than that. I'm not going to claim to be an expert here, but I just want to share some thoughts I've had based on recent experiences, in order to hopefully help others to gain a deeper understanding of the phrase "God's will."
The first question that one must ask is "how do we know God's will?" The simple answer to this question is through prayer, and through the Bible- the sacred scriptures. The Sacred Scriptures reveal to us the things that God wants us to do (or not do) to be His people, so that we may serve Him in this life, in order to be happy with Him in Heaven in the next life. Prayer helps us to more fully enter into a relationship with God, so that we may come to know and develop a deeper understanding of what it is God wishes us to do in ALL aspects of our life. And yes, that does mean that you can pray about relationships, struggles with co-workers, problems you are having, and the like. Prayer is not just a memorized formula of texts that we recite until we are blue in the face with no real meaning or power behind the words- it is our one-on-one time with the God who loves us, and wants nothing more than for us to draw closer to Him, the source of true life and true happiness.
Secondly, we must understand that God's will is unchanging. This is a difficult concept to grasp, especially in today's progressive society that is always pushing for change. Man's ways are fickle, and are constantly changing, but God in his infinite wisdom has already ordained right and wrong from the beginning of time, and nothing that man says or does will make God change his mind. Yes, humans do have free will, and we can choose to go against God's will for us, but that does not mean that we have changed God's will.
We must also understand that we will often face ridicule for choosing to follow God's will- because God's ways are not the ways of this world. But there is a happiness that comes from following God's Will that cannot come from the things of this world. Because the number one thing that God desires is for us to be happy. And if we follow His will for us, and allow Him to guide us, we will come to know Happiness- maybe not in the ways that we would expect, but in ways that God knows are best for us.
So what exactly is God's will? Will in it's simplest sense is defined as a wish or desire. So therefore we can conclude that God's will makes up the sum of the wishes and desires for us, His people. Simple, right? On the surface, yes, but there is much more to it than that. I'm not going to claim to be an expert here, but I just want to share some thoughts I've had based on recent experiences, in order to hopefully help others to gain a deeper understanding of the phrase "God's will."
The first question that one must ask is "how do we know God's will?" The simple answer to this question is through prayer, and through the Bible- the sacred scriptures. The Sacred Scriptures reveal to us the things that God wants us to do (or not do) to be His people, so that we may serve Him in this life, in order to be happy with Him in Heaven in the next life. Prayer helps us to more fully enter into a relationship with God, so that we may come to know and develop a deeper understanding of what it is God wishes us to do in ALL aspects of our life. And yes, that does mean that you can pray about relationships, struggles with co-workers, problems you are having, and the like. Prayer is not just a memorized formula of texts that we recite until we are blue in the face with no real meaning or power behind the words- it is our one-on-one time with the God who loves us, and wants nothing more than for us to draw closer to Him, the source of true life and true happiness.
Secondly, we must understand that God's will is unchanging. This is a difficult concept to grasp, especially in today's progressive society that is always pushing for change. Man's ways are fickle, and are constantly changing, but God in his infinite wisdom has already ordained right and wrong from the beginning of time, and nothing that man says or does will make God change his mind. Yes, humans do have free will, and we can choose to go against God's will for us, but that does not mean that we have changed God's will.
We must also understand that we will often face ridicule for choosing to follow God's will- because God's ways are not the ways of this world. But there is a happiness that comes from following God's Will that cannot come from the things of this world. Because the number one thing that God desires is for us to be happy. And if we follow His will for us, and allow Him to guide us, we will come to know Happiness- maybe not in the ways that we would expect, but in ways that God knows are best for us.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Giving this another go
I've been absent from the blogosphere for quite awhile now, and really it's no one's fault but my own. I will admit that I kind of lost interest in blogging at the start of the year, but recently, several people have told me how much they enjoyed reading my blog, and asked me why I hadn't posted in a while... so I'm going to try to keep it up again- at least until I enter the Novitiate. More on that in a minute!
So where to begin... so much has happened since my last update! I finished out the School year at Catholic Central, Got to visit Family in Indiana one last time before making a much needed visit back to New Mexico to visit family and friends, and of course, consume copius amounts of green chili (yum!) It was also Wedding Central this summer... first, I traveled to Destin, Florida, for my younger brother's wedding. After we returned from Florida, I hit the road to Alamogordo, NM, for another wedding- this time for my friends Casey and Joe. Both Weddings were a blast! here are a couple of pictures:
My brother Brian and his wife (and now my sister!) Nichole
"You better not shove that cake in my face!"
Casey and Joe, and the wedding party
Casey and Joe's First Dance
Of course, I couldn't go to Alamogordo without making the trip down to Las Cruces to see friends there! And of course to admire the scenery :)
I swear... this never gets old!
But sadly, all good things must come to an end... and after three short weeks, it was time to leave the Land of Enchantment, and move on to other places. Hotter, more humid places- like Houston, TX! I've been here for about a week now, and I can already tell that the humidity is going to take some getting used to... I've learned that you pretty much don't want to be outside for any great length of time during the middle of the day unless you have PLENTY of water with you. I drove through Memorial Park the other afternoon on the way to the Retreat House we were having the Associate Retreat at, and there were people jogging. My first thought was "are you crazy?" But I guess what makes desert boy miserable may not make the locals miserable... either that, or they are crazy!
So, many of you may be asking by this point- "Steven, why are you in Houston?" Well, here's your answer. I am here preparing to begin my Novitiate year- a year of intense discernment and spiritual formation that every member of a Religious Community must go through to officially become a member of the community. We learn about the Vows we profess, the Basilian way of life, different forms of prayer and Spirituality, and above all, how to live in Community. At the end of that year, we profess Temporary Vows, and then we will be able to Begin Seminary.
The Novitiate will begin in Mid-August, so in the meantime, we will be taking Philosophy courses at the University of St. Thomas here in Houston. It should prove to be an interesting experience... I haven't taken much Philosophy, so I'm not quite sure what to expect, but hopefully it all goes well!
That's about all for now... I have some other thoughts brewing for a possible future blog that I will share later.... maybe it won't be so hard to get back into this after all!
Blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Steven
Monday, May 14, 2012
I really should be better about posting here!!
I haven't blogged in forever! Mainly because ever since I got back from my visit home at Christmas, life has been crazy! I've led two Kairos Retreats for CC, played/sang at numerous Masses, helped with a school play, seen our Wrestling team win a state title- and that's only the half of it!
I also got the chance to fulfill one of my life long dreams and go to New York City! I saw the Lion King, Godspell, and I also saw La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera House, in addition to going to Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial, Ellis Island, Grand Central Terminal- it was amazing! I hope I am able to go back again some day, because New York is a great city!
I would also like to add that I have been accepted into the Basilian Novitiate, beginning in August. This means that I will be moving to Sugarland, TX (a suburb of Houston) at the End of June. I have enjoyed my time in Michigan greatly, but I am looking forward to the next step of the adventure!
I also got the chance to fulfill one of my life long dreams and go to New York City! I saw the Lion King, Godspell, and I also saw La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera House, in addition to going to Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial, Ellis Island, Grand Central Terminal- it was amazing! I hope I am able to go back again some day, because New York is a great city!
I would also like to add that I have been accepted into the Basilian Novitiate, beginning in August. This means that I will be moving to Sugarland, TX (a suburb of Houston) at the End of June. I have enjoyed my time in Michigan greatly, but I am looking forward to the next step of the adventure!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
It's been forever!
It's amazing how time can get away from you when you're having fun and keeping busy! I can't believe it's been over 2 months since I've last written, but at least that means I've been staying busy!
So here's a rundown of what I've been up to for the past couple of months.
I began the month of November by going to Las Cruces to celebrate the wedding of two of my good friends from College. It was a joy to be at Paul and Carol's wedding, and I wish them a life of happiness together! It was also great to get to see so many friends from years past, and have a chance to catch up, even though it was just a very brief one. But with so many people living in so many different places across the country, We sometimes just have to be greatful for the time that we do get to spend with friends, no matter how short it is.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to Albuquerque for Thanksgiving, but thankfully, my Grandparents live 4 hours away from where I am! I was able to drive to Merillville, IN, for Thanksgiving, and spend it with my Grandparents, my Aunt and Uncle, and several of my cousins that I had not seen in a long time. It was a great trip, and I very much enjoyed getting to spend time with a part of my family that I don't get to see very often.
I was able to go home for Christmas, and it was great to be able to see my family after being gone for almost 7 months. It was also great to get some good New Mexican food, and some good green chile! I was able to see many friends and people from my Parish back home, and it was nice for them to know that I am doing well.
I also went to Houston for a couple of days over Christmas Break, for a gathering of the Basilian Associates. We went to the Basilian beach house on Galveston Island, and it was great! There's something kind of strange about being on a beach on the 29th of December, with the temperature in the mid 70's, but hey, I'm not complaining! It was a great reprieve from the (currently not so) cold north!
Still waiting for the first real snowfall of the year to hit... funny how this winter has been more like a NM winter! Everyone is dreading what is to come though, because they're worried that we're going to get buried under one massive snowstorm here before too long.
School has been going well, and the Winter sports season is in full swing! I've taken on the responsibility of announcing the Freshman and JV Basketball games, and it really is a lot of fun! Hopefully it's something I can keep doing in the future.
That's about it for now. More to come soon!
So here's a rundown of what I've been up to for the past couple of months.
I began the month of November by going to Las Cruces to celebrate the wedding of two of my good friends from College. It was a joy to be at Paul and Carol's wedding, and I wish them a life of happiness together! It was also great to get to see so many friends from years past, and have a chance to catch up, even though it was just a very brief one. But with so many people living in so many different places across the country, We sometimes just have to be greatful for the time that we do get to spend with friends, no matter how short it is.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to Albuquerque for Thanksgiving, but thankfully, my Grandparents live 4 hours away from where I am! I was able to drive to Merillville, IN, for Thanksgiving, and spend it with my Grandparents, my Aunt and Uncle, and several of my cousins that I had not seen in a long time. It was a great trip, and I very much enjoyed getting to spend time with a part of my family that I don't get to see very often.
I was able to go home for Christmas, and it was great to be able to see my family after being gone for almost 7 months. It was also great to get some good New Mexican food, and some good green chile! I was able to see many friends and people from my Parish back home, and it was nice for them to know that I am doing well.
I also went to Houston for a couple of days over Christmas Break, for a gathering of the Basilian Associates. We went to the Basilian beach house on Galveston Island, and it was great! There's something kind of strange about being on a beach on the 29th of December, with the temperature in the mid 70's, but hey, I'm not complaining! It was a great reprieve from the (currently not so) cold north!
Still waiting for the first real snowfall of the year to hit... funny how this winter has been more like a NM winter! Everyone is dreading what is to come though, because they're worried that we're going to get buried under one massive snowstorm here before too long.
School has been going well, and the Winter sports season is in full swing! I've taken on the responsibility of announcing the Freshman and JV Basketball games, and it really is a lot of fun! Hopefully it's something I can keep doing in the future.
That's about it for now. More to come soon!
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