Food and Feet

It's been a long time since my last post and for that, I apologize.  There's been a lot happening at the Seminary these days and I'll try to bring everyone up to speed in the weeks ahead. 

One of the highlights in the Seminary over the past month has been the Ordination to the Diaconate on our patronal feast - the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  On this day, we celebrated and prayed with Rodnev Lapommeray, Dennis Suglia, Kevin Thompson and Frank Zero (see pictures below) as they were ordained to the diaconate. I have been fortunate to spend a significant amount of time with these men - my classmates - and it was a tremendous day for our entire community.

I had the opportuntiy to preach at Morning Prayer on December 8th. Below is the text of my homily that morning:

Today is a day of calling for sure. I’d like to suggest today that we, too, might be called, like Mary, in ways we could never imagine. Today, in a special way, in spirit of both this solemnity and the spirit of this day as we prepare for the Ordination to the Diaconate if this day is not about a calling to Food and Feet - yes, Food and Feet. Bear with me for a minute….



Rodnev Lapommeray, from the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Before coming to the Seminary, I had the opportunity to work with a program called, “Midnight Run”. It involved bringing together groups of people – in my case – high school students – to bring clothing and food to homeless women and men in Manhattan on Friday nights. Before one I received a call from the Dean of Students asking me to include a young man – who I knew all too well – who had gotten into some trouble. So, I strongly encouraged Sean to come and to spend the night with a group of people he was not too comfortable with and spending a Friday night in an unfamiliar way, for him at least.

So we journeyed and headed into Manhattan. I never failed (nor fail) to be humbled by the reaction of those we would bring and those we would encounter. The gratitude, appreciation and desire for relationship they sought too. There was also human moments of encounter, like on this night when one man said to Sean – after seeing the hundreds of sandwiches prepared and said, “What, you don’t have any Turkey? How can you come here and not have Turkey?”



That same night we journeyed to 55th Street and Park Avenue and saw a man who came to our van barefoot looking for shoes or sneakers. The shoes he was wearing were worn and ripped and clearly this man needed new shoes. We just did not have that much clothing this particular night and had to send the man away barefoot with only food. It wasn’t until the next stop that I realized what had happened. As we gathered everyone up I couldn’t find Sean. You can imagine the range of thoughts running through my mind. After a minute or two Sean came from around a corner and returned to the van. It wasn’t until we got to the next stop that I realized what happened. Sean wasn’t wearing any shoes.

I share that story because this day – because I think this morning’s reading and our preparations for the celebration of Diaconate – might en-flesh for us, if you will, the power of this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. That we, like Mary, are called to greatness, even when we don’t think we’re worthy, even when we cannot imagine why God might have created us, why he formed us, what we are His.

How do we actualize this – how do we come to more powerfully recognize this – well it’s in Food and Feet. It’s in the example of the diaconate. It’s around the Table that we’ll gather around to share and encounter Jesus in bread and wine. And it calls us to look at the tables of our own lives. Who do we welcome? include? Exclude? Who is welcome? Who is shunned? The men who will be ordained today become more powerfully people of Table – should not the same be true for the rest of us.

And it’s from that sharing in the meal – that we are called to be people of feet – of the “washing of the feet”, of service to our God by service to another. Here, again, it’s in the example of the diaconate. The commitment of deacons to have a special love and priority to the poor. We, too, must look to that in our own lives. Are we really willing to serve and seek out the most vulnerable among us? It’s not about journeying into NYC and feeding the homeless. It’s about looking among our friends, our family members, the men we are in class with, those who live on our alleys. The men who will be ordained today prepare to embrace what it means to wash feet – should not the same be true for the rest of us?

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – a day we recognize in a deeper, even unseen ways, of Mary’s call to be the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church. God called her by name – saw and realized the gifts present within before she herself knew. Today, you and I are called to re-recognize, re-discover and reflect on how God constantly calls each one of us to encounter him in bread and wine, in the service of the other. – in food and feet.

Rockville Centre Deacons. From left to right: Deacon Frank Zero, Deacon Dennis Suglia, Bishop William Murphy and Deacon Dennis Suglia.

Let’s pray that we may be open to God’s dynamic call in our lives, that we like Mary, like the men to be ordained may respond to God’s call with enthusiasm and acceptance for we are his servants, let it be done to us according to his will.

The Wedding

So this week, I considered writing about Thanksgiving or Work Days or some other facet of Seminary life...and then I returned home this weekend to read The Long Island Catholic to find an article about my "mock" wedding that so many participted in.  Take some time to read the article
http://www.licatholic.org/news/2010/11/112410/DoingtheritethingSeminarianpracticesweddingwithparishhelp.html
as I hope it reveals a lot about the formation process and the need for the community of support to be invovled in the process.

Have a great week!

This a picture of the wedding reception the parish hosted after the "mock" wedding! What a great community!

Hall of Fame

This past Saturday, I was inducted into the St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School Hall of Fame along Mrs. Barbara Maher, The Ferraro Family and Rev. Msgr. James Kissane. It was a tremendous honor - one that was both very affirming and humbling, most especially when I consider this year's inductees and previous honorees.  Even more humbling was the tremendous visible support offered by family, the St. John's, Our Lady of Lourdes and Hope House communities and the members of the Seminary community who attended the dinner.





The Inductees: Mr. Walter D. Lace and Msgr. James Vlaun



 Below are the words I shared after being inducted into the Hall of Fame by Msgr. James Vlaun, past Chaplain and Mr. Walter D. Lace, Principal:

"I come tonight with three reactions – shock – humility – gratitude.

Shock. First, and those of you who know me already know this – I hate this stuff. And I want you to know how it happened. Last January Mr. Lace mentioned, “You know, Johnny, we need to honor you at the Hall of Fame….” and I said, “No, no, I don’t think so” and never heard about it again until during my pastoral work this summer at Good Samaritan Hospital came to me and said, “Congratulations you’re being honored at St. John the Baptist”. I replied, “What?” and she showed me the SJB Family News with my picture on it…so lesson learned – in the future be definitive.

Family Picture!



 Humility. Truthfully, I come here tonight very humbled and truthfully one does not feel worthy of this for two reasons. First I see who has been inducted into the Hall of Fame and who is being inducted this night. The wall in the South Lobby is filled with women and men, families and communities who have in some way – directly or indirectly –given more to me than I could ever hope to offer to St. John’s. For this community accepted an awkward, uncomfortable fourteen year old freshman in 1989 and molded and formed him. This community through the actions and support of Dr. Joanne O’Brien, Msgr. Vlaun and Mr. Lace gave an opportunity of a lifetime to a 20 year old to serve as a teacher and campus minister and eventually social worker, It is this community that encouraged me to continue to learn and go to school and to develop. It is this community – of students, alumni, teachers, family, friends and so many others – who in large part sent me to the Seminary. And even to this night, a community that continues to pray for, support and encourage me in so many ways.

Some members of the Seminary Community: Sr. Mary Louise Brink, SC, Collins Adwutum, Lawrence Onyegu, Jacob Onyumbe, Msgr. Joseph DeGrocco, Paschal Choi, Daniel Opaku-Mensah, and John Kwon.

   Gratitude. You see it’s because I have been given so much that I come with gratitude….gratitude I suppose for those circles that Fr. Jim spoke about. Grateful for family….who has constantly provided support and encouragement and space – I can’t tell you how many family events I’ve had to be late or to miss for something involving work or parish. Grateful for this community of course as well as parish who is here tonight – a parish where I was born and raised and again given the opportunity to minister and serve…Grateful for the community of health care ministry and Hope House…again given more opportunities to discover more about myself and the limited way I can God’s gifts for the better. And grateful for the perhaps the “newest” community on the block –the men and women here from the Seminary. I’m honored that administrators, faculty and staff have come tonight – for while St. John’s accepted a 14 year old freshmen, this community accepted a 34 year old awkward freshman last year. You will see a number of men I live with here tonight. In most cases they have traveled the world to come to this place and in coming to know them, I’ve come to know what true sacrifice, humility and service are about – again another opportunity and experience I’ve been given. 


Good friends from parish and beyond who attended the dinner.



In that spirit of shock, humility and gratitude – I thank you for doing what good community – what good family – does so well: surprises you again and again, gives you opportunities to recognize how God might in some way work through and time and time again – give you reasons to give thanks again and again for a lifetime of support, empowerment, strength and support. For that I am most grateful."





All Saints Day Homily

This morning, I preached and presided at our Morning Prayer for All Saints' Day. Attached is the text of my homily.

When you work in a place for thirteen years some would say you develop a legacy, a history…I would say you develop a “trail”. So when I left a place where I worked and actually went to school all of the history comes out….and hence this picture (not shown on blog!) This picture is from my Freshman year in high school at the annual Halloween Dance….yes I’m in clerical garb. And a note – that “big glasses” were in the late 80s and early 90s – I was not a nerd! And I actually have the collar buttoned and am wearing a jacket. Those of you who have come to know me here are probably shocked.

Yet, I find some comedy – well actually – humiliation in this picture. When I received this picture and came across it a few weeks ago I thought of today’s feast day and the cultural celebration of Halloween.. All Saints’ Day and Halloween - a day of great masks compared to a day of authenticity. A day when we dress up and perhaps seek to become who we want to be or dream to be – balanced against a day of utter authenticity.

This challenges me and maybe you – because if I’m honest the person standing in front of you is a bigger phony than the kid in the picture. And with great honesty, I wonder if each one of us might say the same about ourselves.

There are three qualities that I’d like to suggest we need to look at this morning. There are many we could look but perhaps these three can focus our prayer and reflection this day.

The saints show us insecurity and vulnerability. When we encounter the writings and lives of the saints, we encounter women and men who were not necessarily the most confident in their abilities and talents. They questioned, in many cases, why God choose them or how God would use them. Their acknowledgement of their weakness, of their vulnerability, attracts us to them. I don’t know a person – who is sitting in this Chapel today or not – who does not struggle with insecurity. Yet we’re not as good as facing it. We hide ourselves in work, in relationships, statuses. The saint embraced their brokenness and used it as a means to embrace those they were called to serve and to embrace the Lord.

The saints teach us about intimacy. In their brokenness, their vulnerability, they seek to grow closer to the Lord. It’s one thing in our lives to know about God – to study, debate, publicly worship. We do that well and it’s good. However, it is all a waste of time unless its based in our ongoing relationship with and desire to know God – to be willing to fall more deeply in love with him each and every day. What prevents us from falling more deeply in love with God?

Finally, the saints teach us integrity, they teach us about authenticity. They are most clearly who God has called them to be – in some cases entirely undaunted by what those around them might think. I have to admit something else to you today. I am a “Parrotthead”. That’s a name given to Jimmy Buffett fans. That’s another homily. He wrote and sang a song about culture and when it came to religion, he says, “There is a fine line between Saturday night and Sunday morning”. For the saints, there was no fine line. They were who they were. Can the same be said be about us? We sit here this morning most holy and prayerful – will the same spirit reside in us in a few minutes at breakfast? We’ll pray beautifully and prayerfully at Mass this afternoon. Will have that same spirit this evening in B-wing or in conversations with one another today. We can lack integrity and authenticity more often then we want to admit or acknowledge. What is preventing us from become our true and best selves?

So truthfully, there are times, more than I’d like to admit that the man standing here is more a phony than they guy in the picture. Yet, I pray, and I hope you do, too, that we might seek the “wisdom and insight” of the saints. With that wisdom and insight, let’s pray we can recognize our vulnerabilities and weaknesses, grow closer to our God and in so doing more authentically live the life God has called us to be - men (and women) of holiness.


Scripture Text:
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes
of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit.

The Word of the Lord.

Meet the Alley - Year 2

The view of our alley hall from my room.

Last year, around this time, I wrote about the alley community where I live here at the Seminary. I thought it’d be good to introduce you to the Alley Community this year. Each year there are some changes in the alley as people take leave for Pastoral Year or Ordination. Additionally, every two years, seminarians are required to move to a different alley.

As I wrote last year, in addition to being part of the larger seminary community, each seminarian at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception is part of a “corridor community” or more informally an “alley”. The idea is, that just like Church, we don’t just experience support from the larger community but also on a smaller, more intimate level. I have come to see even more this year the need for a smaller community in the midst of a larger one.

I still live on Alley 3-B. There are seven of us who live here daily and our alley prefect, or professor is Msgr. James Swiader. (He’s also the Dean of Seminarians and my Advisor – so there will be a post about him one day.) We have some formal and informal ways that we attempt to support and be present to one another. We gather for Evening Prayer on Mondays and Thursdays and those times we usually share a few laughs or good stories about the week. Once or twice a semester we’ll try to go to dinner outside of the Seminary. (A few weeks ago we went to Besito for dinner –muy bueno!)



I’m going to provide a brief intro about each person on the alley – you can check out their pictures on the Seminary Website….



Daniel Opoku-Mensah receives
Candidacy and Killick Pierrilus
serves as the Bookbearer



Killick Pierrilus: Killick is a 3rd year theologian from the Diocese of Brooklyn. Orginally, he is from Haiti. He works in B wing – a place for the seminarians to hang out and catch up after a long day.

Fortunatus Mugishu: I’ve written before about Fortunatus (click here). He’s a great man who comes to our seminary from the Diocese of Kabale in Uganda. I miss Fortunatus. He is on his pastoral year at St. Patrick’s in Bay Shore.  We keep in touch pretty regularly. Even though he’s not living here daily, he still makes a great difference.

Daniel Opoku-Mensah: Daniel is now a second year theologian from the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong in Ghana. Daniel has a great sense of humor and perspective on life, here at the Seminary and in general. And, good news, this year he’s passed his road test and is now driving all over Long Island. (I've written before about Daniel here.)

Frank Zero: Frank is a 4th year theologian from St. Edward’s in Syosset. Frank is in many of my classes and is a great classmate. We find a good way to tease each other a bit but underneath it all is a great respect and admiration. He will be ordained a deacon this December 8th.

Ray Flores: Ray joined the alley last Spring and, like Fortunatus, is out on Pastoral Year in the Diocese of Brooklyn. He is a great musician and has a wonderful pastoral sense of things in and outside of the Seminary.



Jeremy Canna

Jeremy Canna: Jeremy is a 2nd year theologian from the Diocese of Brooklyn. He is a great musician and plays the organ at many of our seminary Masses and prayer services. Jeremy and I spent part of our summer together at the Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI) in Miami.

James Renna: James, a 1st theologian, is the newest member of our Alley Community. He comes to the Seminary from St. Joseph’s Parish in Hewlitt. He has a great reverence and love for the Church and for those he lives with. I’m glad he’s on the alley.


John Kwon and I at St. John the Baptist
Diocesan High School in May 2010


John Kwon: I’ve written about John before, too (click here).  He joined the alley last Spring. He is from the Diocese of Daejon in South Korea. He has a great sense of humor and perspective on things. He has become a trusted friend and mentor in managing life within and outside the Seminary.

So that's the alley! It's a great group of people and I'm fortunate to spend part of my journey here with them.

Taking Time to Smell the Roses

This past week, I returned to the parish for two important events both which are good reminders for me (and for all of us?) on this journey. Last Tuesday, I celebrated my “mock” Baptism which I’ll write about at another time.

Marie Ricigliano and I at Oktoberfest at Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church



Then on Saturday, I returned for a wonderful parish celebration where we honored Marie Ricigliano. Marie, to me and many others, is a living example of faith, hope and love. She has known pain, struggle, illness, the loss of a child and husband, to name a few. Yet she never fails to inspire and invigorate others. Marie is a tremendous person of prayer, community, hospitality, service, support and encouragement. What we often say about faith, hope and love she lives each and every day.



 I’ve known Marie since I was a fourth grader in the parish school (there will be no pictures of that). While we didn’t know each other personally at that point, Marie was one of the volunteers who helped at everything in the parish – from the Italian Feast, Bingo, the Rosary Christian Mothers, Parish Outreach, the Ministry of Consolation and so much more. More than the “ministries” is her gift of presence. When you talk with Marie, you know you’re talking with a woman who not only knows about Jesus, she knows Jesus and wants you to know Him too.

Over the past ten years or so, I have had the opportunity to know Marie not only as a woman from the parish but as a friend. (There is, no doubt, she is a large source of encouragement in my coming to the Seminary.) Throughout these years, she has said to me in person, on the phone or in writing, “Be sure to take time to smell the roses.” (I think she was warning me to slow it down a bit!) And, truthfully, whenever things have gotten a little crazy or busy, that line, and the person who said it, would even creep into my mind….what would Marie say?

When I arrived at the Seminary and entered my room for the first time, I smiled. For as hard as taking leave of family, parish and ministry were, I knew it’d be OK. You see, outside of my room is the Rose Garden of the Seminary. I called Marie that day and said, “Don’t worry…I’ll be able to smell the roses every day!”

We all probably have people in our lives like Marie – women and men who gently encourage and guide us in becoming who God calls us to be. (I've written about a few others here and here.) They often stay in the background, never seeking credit or accolades. (She’ll be furious when she reads this posting.) However, no matter how far in the background they might go, you always know they’re there. You need them for they call you beyond some of the surface things that life can bring and help you to move “into the deep” of relationship and love with God and one another.

Thanks, Marie, for teaching me to take time to smell the roses.

Marie (center) with Jo Brogan, Lori Bouklas and Mimi Camperlengo in the Kitchen at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School. They used to come and organize all the Italian food at our Annual  Family Festival.

Ministry of Acolyte

This past Friday, I took one of the “official” steps on this journey. I was installed as an Acolyte. Last March, you might remember, I was instituted as a lector or reader. The focus in the ministry is on the Word and how it is proclaimed and lived out. With the institution of Acolyte, the focus moves to the Table and a sense of service both within and outside of the Liturgy.

On a “practical” level, this means more public liturgical service. The Church tells us, “The Acolyte is appointed in order to aid the deacon and minister to the priest (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 6). This requires assisting at the altar with the details of the Liturgy and serving at liturgical functions (prayer services, Exposition, and at other acts of worship). At the seminary, this includes leading Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer when assigned, serving at Mass and our daily Exposition services, and making sure that everything “flows” at a particular liturgy.

When installed as lectors, we received a Lectionary – the book that contains the readings for each day of the year. As acolytes, we received and now begin wearing an alb. It’s another external sign of what I hope, are not only external but internal changes and growth.

Bishop Octavio Cisneros, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, came to the Seminary on Friday, and this is part of the homily he offered on Friday:
In performing your ministry bear in mind that, as you share the one bread with your brothers and sisters, so you form one body with them. Show a sincere love for Christ's Mystical Body, God's holy people, and especially for the weak and the sick. Be obedient to the commandment which the Lord gave to his apostles at the Last Supper: "Love one another as I also have loved you."
By this prayer, I am reminded (and maybe you, too) of the tremendous link between how we pray and how we live our lives each day. It’s not only about we do “in Church” but how serve “as Church” each and every day.

On Friday, after the homily, Bishop Cisneros called each of us forward and gave us a vessel of bread and wine and he said:
“Take this vessel with bread (wine) for the celebration of the eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and his Church.”

Let’s pray that each of one of us, and particularly me these days, may be worthy of our “service at the table of the Lord and his Church!

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If you're able to come to Our Lady of Lourdes to help on October 12th (see right column) please e-mail this week. Some of you might be getting jobs!

Hope House

This year, in Fourth Theology, seminarians are required to carry out some type of pastoral work in their local diocese. Some of my classmates’ experiences, this semester, include working with in college Campus Ministry program, a Children’s Hospital and other local outreach organizations. The seminary has allowed me to continue some of my previous pastoral work this semester at St. Anne’s Parish in Brentwood and Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.

I’ve written previously about St. Anne’s but have not written too much about my work at Hope House. Hope House is a Catholic social service agency that has served young people and families “in crisis” for over 30 years. Founded and led by Fr. Frank Pizzarelli, SMM and supported by the Montfort Missionaries, it began as one small house in 1980. In the past 30 years, Hope House has grown into an agency that services thousands of people each month. You can read more about the services of Hope House here.

My work is primarily in two different parts of Hope House. I work in the Human Services Center (photo, right) which offers counseling and mental health support to people of all ages in need of a variety of services. I work with a number of clients – at present, mostly adolescents and their families – as a counselor and social worker. Of those clients, a few of them live in the Community House, the long term residence established to treat young men who can no longer live at home or need to address issues related to substance abuse, family conflicts or legal challenges. Residents at the Community House (photo, below) live there, share community and carry on their lives – either by going to school, working, or focusing on recovery among many other activities. I try to be present to those living in the Community House, when I can by working for those who might need coverage and joining in the community meal when I am there. Fr. Frank is not only responsible for the house but serves as a real father figure to these young men who live there. It’s a different example of priestly service and one, for me, that is inspirational.

I have been involved at Hope House for over five years and have never failed to be challenged and humbled by my experiences there. In having the honor to work with people in their brokenness, I’ve learned much about resilience, endurance and hope. To be able to be present with people on a journey towards healing and recovery cannot help but transform all involved, including me.

Since coming to the Seminary, I have been able to maintain some involvement at Hope House. It’s been funny to hear many of these young people who knew me before I entered the Seminary say things like, “Are you sure you want to do this?” or “Oh man I could never…” but at the same time see their curiosity. I have some great conversations – often both serious and humorous - about vocation, direction and the future. There is no doubt that this has been another ministry in my life that led me here to the Seminary and priestly formation. I am better for being a part of Hope House.

Hospitality Day

This weekend, the Seminary hosted “Hospitality Day”. This is one of the days seminarians invite family and friends who have helped to support them on their journey to priesthood. It’s also a way for family and friends to “check out” the place and make sure their seminarian is in good shape!

A little history of the day is in order. The title “Hospitality Day” is new. Previously, this day was called “Family Day”. The change this year occurs for two reasons. First, as this is an international community, it is difficult for some to have their families come to the Seminary say from Uganda or Korea, etc. Second, it acknowledges the tremendous influence of friends and communities in the vocation work of the Church.

The day begins with Mass. This year, Fr. Peter, our Rector, presided and preached at the Liturgy. He affirmed the great commitment our family and friends, most especially our parents, have made in supporting the seminary. Second, he called each of us – seminarians, family members, friends – to work each and every day to grow closer to Jesus. The “call to holiness” is not just for seminarians, priests and religious, but for each and everyone of us.

After Mass, every one gathers in the Cloister areas of the Seminary for a BBQ. The weather was wonderful yesterday and that only added to day. This is also a great opportunity for seminarians’ families to meet each other and the faculty as well.

Following lunch, seminarians lead tours throughout the buildings and grounds. I laughed at myself yesterday. Last year, during Hospitality Day, I was not the greatest tour guide and just sort of got through it. I had only been here for a month at that point, was still adjusting and didn’t know too much about life here. This year, that’s changed. So the tour was a little longer, had more details and Seminary trivia, and I hope, a little more informational.

Days like yesterday are good ones for those of us who live here. Life here can get busy and lonely and hectic and isolating all at the same time. While, I hope, we all know of the great connections and support present to us, days like yesterday serve as a great confirmation.

Have a great week!

P.S. We’re only allowed 10 guests…but next year I’ll see if you can all come!

Opening Days

I write to you as I’m about to complete my first full week in my second year - my sophomore year, I suppose – at the Seminary.

This year, as in my first year, an Opening Retreat started the year. Beginning on Wednesday, September 1, 2010, Bishop William Murphy led us through three days of prayer and reflection. (You can read more about the background to this here.)

First, and perhaps most striking, we are called to silence in these days. This is certainly a challenge but at the same time a powerful opportunity. It’s not easy to avoid talking and catching up or even talking on the phone, etc. Yet, the absence of the “noise” does allow for some deeper reflection and growth, at least for me :)!

Second, Bishop Murphy asked us to focus on the role of Mary in the life of the Church, in general, and the life of the priest and seminarians, in particular. His talks focused in four areas: a) Mary in the Mystery; b) Mary as the Ark of the Covenant; c) Mary and the Church; and d) Mary in the life of the priest and seminarian. Bishop Murphy offered us much to think about especially about Mary as the model for the Church and its members. He reminded us consistently of the need to remember the service of humility of Mary and put that into action in our own lives, especially as priests and seminarians. (There were many other points, but this post would go on for about three screens!)

Third, Bishop Murphy made himself available to meet with us individually. To be honest, that may have been one of the highlights of the opening three days. We all “know the Bishop” and the responsibilities and roles he plays in the operation of a Diocese and admittedly, it was a little intimidating to talk to “the Bishop”. Yet, I must say, he was nothing but kind, compassionate, understanding and supportive of my journey, recognizing and identifying some of the challenges I have faced and offering great encouragement and direction. When beginning the retreat, Bishop Murphy said he wanted to lead the retreat because too often bishops are seen as distant or primarily as administrators and he believes they must be seen as spiritual fathers, as brothers, as true shepherds. I can see what he meant and what he hoped to achieve, most especially when I left my meeting with him.

From the retreat, after a weekend at home, we are now in the midst of the Spring semester. We have a different “house” this year – as the five men ordained last year now have parish assignments, eight men have left to begin pastoral year in parishes, four men have returned from pastoral work and five new seminarians have entered! The journey…the transition….continues! Sophomore year is underway!

Freshman Orientation

This past week, I returned to the Seminary to assist with Transition, a program established to orient the new seminarians as they join this community. (I will still be involved at St. Anne's - more to come on that one!) I remember going through Transition last year. Truthfully with all of the changes in my own life last August, I feel I may have learned more about life in the Seminary this year as opposed to last!

Transition consists of significant information about life in the Seminary and the four pillars of priestly formation. (You can read more about that here and here.) In addition, there is a practical element to Transition – where the library is, how to handle certain situations, going over the seminarian handbook, etc. The hope is that by the end of these days, new seminarians are a little more comfortable with the Seminary and themselves and feel free to ask others if they have questions.

The main focus of the presentations is the four pillars of priestly formation – spiritual, human, academic and pastoral. To present these, Transition includes the following presentations that address a variety of issues related to seminary life (with a brief summary):
-Introduction to the Priestly Formation: On Saturday night, Fr. Peter spoke about the need for seminarians to focus on four specific areas of their own lives in these days ahead: a) the identity of the priest; b) the call to holiness; c) the four pillars and d) the importance of community. Fr. Peter’s talk and presence provided the foundation for the rest of Transition.
-Spiritual Formation: Here, Msgr. Fink and Jason Grisafi, second theologian, presented the spiritual formation program here in the Seminary. This included the importance of daily prayer – private and communal, devotions, Marian prayer, a spiritual director, retreats and so on. Spiritual formation, the work of growing closer and closer to God, provides the foundation for the rest in the life of the seminarian and the priest.
-Liturgical Formation: I worked with Msgr. DeGrocco in this area to talk about both the practical elements of liturgy, the public prayer of the Church as well as some of the internal and personal reflection that must take place. (No one visibly fell asleep during the talk, so that was a good sign!)
-Academic Formation: Sr. Mary Louise Brink and Fortunatus spoke about the importance of study not just for the sake of passing classes but for effective and meaningful ministry as priests in the Church. School work is a large part of this process and Sr. Mary Louise and Fortunatus challenged seminarians to help stay focused on their studies.
-Community Life: Msgr. Swiader, Vice Rector (and my Advisor) and Michael Edathil worked to talk about the opportunities and challenges of human formation, with a special focus on community life. Living in community offers tremendous opportunities for growth and, truthfully, can present some challenges on that as well!
-Pastoral Formation: Msgr. Swiader and Lawrence Onyegu presented this final pillar of formation – the one, some may say, that brings the rest together. Lawrence spoke about his pastoral year at SS. Cyril and Methodius citing how significant his previous work in the seminary prepared him for this experience and how much he learned while on pastoral year.

In addition, we prayed the Liturgy of the Hours as we regularly do at the Seminary, shared meals, and gathered informally to share a little about life here at the Seminary.

Coming to the Seminary for the first time as a seminarian can be daunting. Transition is one effort to alleviate some of the anxiety that can come with this move. I realize how much of a help
it was last year – and how much of a help it has been as I begin my second year in the Seminary!

Today begins our Opening Retreat, led by Bishop Murphy. As we begin this time of prayer, take some time to pray for the new seminarians here at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception as they take a huge step towards priesthood.

The Love Shines Through - en espanol!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve tried to provide an overview of the many different ministries that make up this vibrant parish community. One of my primary reasons for living and working at St. Anne’s has been to live and to be part of the Spanish community that is so alive here.

Since my first night here in June, I have never failed to feel welcomed and accepted by the entire parish, in general, and specifically the Spanish community. From my first attempts at speaking Spanish at Mass (O Dios mio!) to welcoming me as part of the assembly at Mass, to speaking slowly so I could understand to taking the time to explain different practices, expressions and experiences, this community has shown me nothing but acceptance, love, understanding and compassion – and inspire me to do the same.

St. Anne’s is an active multicultural parish. The English, Spanish and Haitian communities both work to support their individual communities and work for the good of the whole parish. Padre Gonzalo oversees many of the works and ministries of the Spanish community at St. Anne’s. There are so many dedicated ministers and volunteers who lead different aspects of the community. Masses are celebrated in Spanish on Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 9:30 A.M. and during the week on Thursdays at 7:30 P.M. I have tried to attend as many of these liturgies as possible. It is not only a matter of language acquisition but joining in spirit-filled and energizing experiences of prayer and worship.

In addition, there are many services and ministries for the community. There is a huge youth group that meets every Friday night. The young people are true witnesses – serving in the community and gathering for time away to support and challenge one another. There are numerous prayer groups for the Spanish community and tremendous outreach is made to invite many to receive the sacraments.

In addition to all of this, there is great effort made to serve those who come to the parish from different parts of the world. They come with a tremendous humility and work ethic, a desire to contribute and to never feel as if they are a burden. Working at St. Anne’s has made me even more empathetic towards the plight of the immigrant. Many in the Spanish community at St. Anne’s have immigrated to the United States in recent years. They have come in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. Most times, there movement to the United States is a desire for safety, a need to support family who remain in their home country or a hope for something greater in America. Our Church has an incredible support for the immigrant – the documented and those without documents. You can read more about the Church’s efforts here and here. (Our own diocese has a Spanish newspaper that can be accessed onlne here.)

I have learned so much about ministry, service and life living here at St. Anne’s. Having the chance to be even a small part of the Spanish community has made a great difference. I’m surely a better person because of it.

Reaching Out in Love with Outreach

As we continue in the month of August, I have tried to reflect about my opportunity to be involved in a number of ministries at St. Anne’s. Like many parishes, St. Anne’s has a vital and powerful Parish Outreach that serves the local community of Brentwood – and what a service it is!

Outreach is a ministry that is unique to each parish, particularly on Long Island. Each community, like each family, has different needs and therefore requires different methods and ways to serve the community. As I’ve written before, the community of St. Anne’s is a generous and life-giving one. At the same time, there is great need here among a diversity of peoples.

Outreach here is presently coordinated by a strong, core group of volunteers. They operate every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to assist those who come to the door. Many times clients will come for the basic of needs – food for themselves and their family. Yet, that is only the beginning and often serves as “opening” to find out about additional needs and to learn about the ways the parish can help and assist them. No one comes and is simply pushed along to the food pantry. Rather, they are invited in, met with a sense of welcome and compassion and invited to share whatever concerns and needs they may have. This can range from assistance with immigration paperwork, a need for support in confronting situations of injustice or violence or helping those without shelter to find a place to stay for a night or two.

The volunteers here work so hard to respect the dignity of those who seek help and support. They have learned new languages to better communicate, discovered and provided connections to community resources and built up the spirit of each client. That’s important for in many cases it is so hard for someone to come forward and seek that support. How hard it is for any one of us to admit our vulnerability and need.

Serving those who come to St. Anne’s is only the beginning for these volunteers. They are also committed to advocating for those in the community. They attend many workshops and conferences to learn about ways they can better support their clients. They have joined local community organizations to make Brentwood a better place to live (here’s one example). And, perhaps most importantly, they invite, educate and form the entire parish community about the responsibility of each and every one of us to reach out to and assist the most vulnerable among us.

Historical Perspectives

Last week, I spoke with Maureen Doolan-Boyle. I know Maureen initially because her wonderful children went to SJB! However, I learned over those year that she has a great connection to St. Anne's and is one of the founding members of the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen. I snuck over to post this (we have a little down time this morning) to share with you her e-mail to me:

"I am so very happy that you are in St. Anne's! What a wonderful experience with such good, hard working people. The challenges we saw in that community were so very different from what we had seen in any other parish we ever belonged to. The generosity of spirit and the mingling of cultures in this community were some of the best gifts we ever could have given our children as they were growing up. We were active members of St. Anne's for about 20 yrs. The people of St. Anne's were there for us when we needed them and even when we thought we were giving back they were still teaching us and sharing the spirit.

I knew about Dorothy Day before St. Anne's but I "met" her in the old school basement on a cold November morning when discussion of the peanut butter and jelly gang first came together. I learned about dignity within poverty in a way I had never known from this experience. I also learned that not all those who are in need are gracious and thankful but it is just as important to give to and serve them with a happy heart as it is to those who seem more grateful. I saw conversion for the first time through the Little Rock Scripture Studies right before my eyes. Where grown men, only there to just get out of the house (or so they said) found their faith and then lived it. I saw people on Sundays coming to Mass who were very, very flawed (just like myself) but you could just tell that they honestly were doing the best that they could. In other communities I think that many people just had the means to hide their flaws (inside and out) but here they were accepted and in this way honest- I am who I am. What you saw is what you got and as strange as that may seem- it was refreshing.

I saw young families coming to Mass with children dressed in their Sunday best and every Sunday they were wearing the exact same dress or suit because it was the ONLY dress or suit they had and it was saved for Mass and special occasions. Sure there were flip flops and inappropriate t-shirts but the women wearing skirts and the fathers in collared shirts stood out and impressed me and reminded me how important it was make the effort. I had never before seen ushers who were responsible for stopping people after Communion from taking the Eucharist home. This never would have occurred to me but it has stayed with me. There was a reverence in this parish that was felt because it was challenged and the sacredness of the Mass became more important I think because of this.

Being an RC was not the only game in town- how many churches are there in Brentwood? TONS right? There are plenty of options for those who are interested and amazingly St. Anne's and the Roman Catholic church was where these people chose to be on any given Sunday. Over and over again simple things within the Mass and within the American RC culture needed to be explained (during Mass) for those who were "checking it out" or new to the community/culture and as someone who was born and raised an RC this old time education was really surprisingly helpful and a wonderful reminder of why Catholics do the things that they do.

I hope that you not only enjoy your experience at St. Annes and that meet as many wonderful people as we did while living there."

My experiences here at St. Anne's are not new - this community has been changing lives for many years!

The Love Shines Through in Baptism

I have been living and working at St. Anne’s for a month as of today – and what a month it has been. I have learned much about parish ministry, working with different cultural communities and the “ins and outs” of priestly living and work. Needless to say, there is much more for me to learn but these have been good days and hopefully will continue to be in the months ahead.

One of the many “new” areas I have worked at St. Anne’s is the Baptism Ministry. One to two nights a week, I help the staff here interview parents who come to the Church seeking baptism for their child. I must tell you, at first, I did not think this would be that engaging. Yet it has been a wonderful opportunity to understand the power of the sacraments of the Church and the real desire of so many to be more involved in the life of the Church. It has been a real source of hope for me!

First, I have come to see and better understand the “requirements” for Baptism for the Church. This can sometimes be a challenge for those unfamiliar with the Church in general, or the Church in America, particularly for those new to the country. It is an opportunity for learning and formation and has actually, in my limited experience, encouraged some families to approach the sacrament differently. For example, they might reconsider why they originally considered a certain person to be a godfather or godmother. It has brought about some good dialogue, even between the two parents at the interview itself.

Second, and most exciting for me, it is wonderful to see the enthusiasm that young families bring with them to this meeting. They’re excited and want this beautiful sacrament for their child. It’s also good, for one who does not understand parenthood firsthand, to see this excitement and enthusiasm as well as the challenges that come with this vital vocation in the life of the Church. How affirming and wonderful it is to see the person you met on Wednesday search you out at Mass on Sunday to say hello and to see them “parenting in action”.

Third, it’s a reminder to build on that enthusiasm. It can sometimes be easy to get caught in the cynicism. Baptisms are celebrated every Saturday at St. Anne’s and they are filled through October. It would be dishonest to say that all who come to the interview are actively engaged in the life of the parish. Yet, what a tremendous opportunity for the evangelizing and welcoming spirit – the love - of the Church to shine through. Gently inviting these families to become involved in the life of St. Anne’s receives a range of reactions – some positive, some not so much. Yet, I hope and pray, that the gentle spirit of welcome and hospitality offered in these moments might serve as an inspiration and reminder of the Church that is always calling people to come home.

What a great experience this continues to be!

The Love Shines Through Grief

As I live and learn here at St. Anne’s, I continually recognize the power and importance of so many of the ministries present in this parish community. This past week, I have been involved with the Ministry of Consolation. It’s an amazing ministry – one present in many parishes – that brings the power of community and Church to those who mourning the loss of a loved one.

The ministry started here about two years ago under the guidance of another seminarian – now Fr. David Regan. In many ways, this ministry provides the comfort and direction a family in grief needs so they don’t need to think or worry about the many details linked to the loss of a loved one. This allows those who are suffering to fully appreciate and enter into the wake service, funeral liturgy and burial of their loved one.

For those who might not be familiar, here’s how the ministry works (I’m sure it’s similar in other parishes, too.) When the parish is notified about the death of a parishioner, a minister of consolation is called and she (or he) gathers a team of fellow ministers to work with and assist a grieving family. Members of the team invite the family to St. Anne’s, visit them at the funeral home or in their own home (whatever is best for them). Here, they walk the family through the entire process – explaining the process, working with a family to plan out the funeral mass, including selecting appropriate readings and hymns, and seeking to include as many members of the family as possible in the vigil service and funeral mass. All of this information is shared with the team and the Celebrant of the liturgy so he, too, is part of the planning of the liturgy.

The Vigil service generally takes place at the funeral home on the afternoon or evening before the funeral Mass. The Church calls us to keep watch, to keep “vigil” before their loved one. We do this by greeting those who visit us, praying in community at a simple prayer service and preparing for the Funeral Mass the next day. A member or two from the team generally attends the wake service and is present in case the family has any last minute questions or concerns.

On the day of the funeral, the ministers are once again present. They greet the family as they arrive, assist them with whatever they need for the liturgy (even thinking of tissues if they’re upset!) and provide them with a worship aid so they can participate in the liturgy without flipping through missalettes, etc. They pray with the family and help them throughout the liturgy, especially if they are taking a part in the liturgy (reading, placing the pall on the casket, bringing up the gifts, etc.). More than anything they do, their presence bears incredible witness to those who are grieving and upset.

These past weeks, I have had the opportunity to serve at some funerals and lead a wake service. One of the things that has stuck with me is the mystery of the Church community. It’s the first time that I have had to lead a wake service or offer a reflection at the service of someone who I really did not know personally. At first, truthfully, it felt a little uncomfortable, even a little bit less than genuine. However, as I have thought and reflected on my experiences here, I’ve come to realize that it is not necessarily about any one of us and/or our personal relationship that is most important. It’s our openness to be witnesses to and ministers of the hope and consolation that comes with new life in Christ!

Hospitality Too - The Love Keeps Shining Through!

As I live and work here at St. Anne’s, I am beginning to understand the depth of commitment of both the parish and the local community to those most in need. There are many areas to reflect upon and we’ll do that in the weeks ahead.

One example of this depth is the parish’s commitment and support of the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen which began in 1988 (?). The Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen is open every Saturday morning but the volunteer efforts require activity throughout the week (from wash up kits on Wednesdays, to food pick ups from local businesses throughout the week to numerous letters and requests for help and support that must be written. (In our local community, it’s often referred to as the “Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang”.) Admittedly, I don’t know as much about the “behind-the-scenes” work as I hope I will one day. The experience of Saturday mornings is one to emulate in our own communities.

The work begins usually around 7:30 A.M. as volunteers come to set up the space. The Parish of St. Anne’s provides the space for the work of the Soup Kitchen and has doneso for a number of years. Even when things in the parish have had to move, a place was always held for Hospitality Too. Presently, the soup kitchen operates out of the Church basement (where there is Air Conditioning!).

Around 8:00 A.M. , donations are sorted, bags prepared and the basement is set up to become a “sandwich factory” of sorts as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made for the homeless and organizations that work with them in the local communities. After the set up is complete, around 9:00 A.M., the day begins with prayer led by a member of the community. Then, the first part of the day begins as thousands (literally) of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made, packaged, boxed and either stored, picked up by or dropped off to local homeless advocacy groups.

After sandwiches are completed, prayers of thanksgiving are offered and the work of the meal gets underway. An unbelievably dedicated crew of regular volunteers makes all of this work, yet they are welcoming of the many new people chipping in (like me!) and getting involved. Bags of bread are prepared, take home meals are organized for each guest, tables are set (with flowers on each one) and the doors opened for the many guests who will come.

Lunch begins promptly at 11 A.M. with a prayer of blessing. A long “soup line”, if you will, forms and nearly two hundred people (the number varies each week) join the community for lunch. Special assistance is given to the elderly, those with children and those who struggle to handle lunch on their in any way. It’s clear a sense of community forms between the guests themselves and those here to serve them each week. What an experience!

After lunch, and only after everyone has been served and is finished, clean up begins in earnest. Never the most exciting part of the meal, it’s done relatively quickly as everyone chips in to get things together.

I have had the privilege of volunteering here before and never fail to leave encouraged and inspired to keep going. The spirit of those who operate the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen, the commitment of the volunteers, the gratitude of the guests and the presence of so much “faith in action” cannot help but inspire all of us to keep on going! There aren't too many experiences more formation than this one.

(To learn more about the work of the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen, you can join their group entitled, “The Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang” on Facebook. The pictures here are from that site and they are scarce as great sensitivity to confidentiality of the guests who come here. )

Following Witnesses

Check out these two websites that detail the work of young people from St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in West Islip.

Our Lady of Lourdes Mission Awareness Trip 2010

St. John the Baptist Mission Outreach: Peru

They'll be updated daily throughout the weeks ahead...certainly a wonderful chance to see many putting their faith and beliefs into action (and probably enjoying a few light moments as the week progresses, too!)

A Week in the Life

I have worked through my first week of living and being present at St. Anne’s Parish in Brentwood. I thought it might be interesting to describe what I have learned in just this first week of parish life.

It is hard to maintain a consistent daily rhythm. In the seminary, our schedules are pretty structured (Prayer at certain times, classes at others, meals, etc.). I am learning that the same may not be possible in the everyday routine of parish life. Sure some things I can control (waking up at a certain time, etc.) but there are many others I cannot. In my first week, I don’t think my “plan for the day” worked out once. Maybe it’s a phone call in Outreach that requires some more attention than anticipated, working with other Pastoral Team members on a Friday night prayer service or trying to learn the “ins and outs” of the parish’s Ministry of Consolation. Before you know it the day is almost over and no two days are the same. That can be hard – and something I’m working to adjust to while I’m here.

Second, my experiences this week have taken me to a number of different areas of parish life. I have worked with members of the Parish Finance staff and volunteers in organizing parish collections and banking. I learned some new things about how basic parish finances work. I have had the chance to work with the volunteers in Parish Outreach (this will be a separate posting later) and serve a few Outreach clients. This week, I also have the opportunity to work with the parish’s Ministry of Consolation. This ministry helps families who have lost a loved one to plan and celebrate the funeral mass.

My time in the parish has also given me the opportunity to participate in the parish’s prayer life. I attend Mass each day in the parish (usually at 12) and that helps to establish some consistency in my day – and what better moment to build a day around. Members of St. Anne’s pray the Rosary daily, have daily Masses in a number of languages (yes I attend the Spanish Mass on Thursday nights) and celebrate Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday afternoons. In the area of prayer, I had the chance to work with members of the Pastoral Team on a special prayer service on Friday night. They even asked me to lead a part of it, which was quite humbling. The prayer service – concluding the Year for Priests – honored the three parish priests at St. Anne’s, included many different parishioners from different segments of parish life and was well attended by the parish community.

Much of my experience this week ahs included meeting and learning from individual parishioners. This is perhaps the highlight that brings it all together. Whether it be meeting someone in the parish office, greeting people after Mass, helping set up for an event or working behind the scenes at something – I have met wonderful, wonderful people. They have not only told me about the history of St. Anne’s and their role in the parish but have shown me what it is to be women and men of faith.

May I develop even half the faith and good will as the people of St. Anne's in the years to come!

Greetings from the "Mother Church of Beautiful Brentwood"!

Greetings from St. Anne’s Parish in Brentwood – the “Mother Church of Beautiful Brentwood”. As I wrote in the last post, this is part of my summer pastoral assignment – an opportunity to experience a diverse, dynamic and active parish community. There is no doubt this parish community is all of those things! I arrived here on Saturday after three weeks at the Southeast Pastoral Institute and the welcome extended to me has been more than I could ever have expected.

The hope of pastoral assignments for seminarians is that our experiences will “push” us a bit and challenge us to undertake and work through various parts of the priestly life. St. Anne’s, for these reasons and others, is a good fit for me. Here are some (but not all) the reasons why….

Living in a Rectory. This is the first time in my life I am living in a Rectory. It is different living than the seminary. There are three priests who live and work at St. Anne’s – Fr. Frank Nelson, the pastor, Fr. Gonzalo and Fr. Eden. They have each been welcoming and wonderful in their own ways. I have a room and a place to work (where I’m typing from right now). The priests of this rectory gather for dinner together most nights and encounter each other in various ways throughout the day. The kitchen table, I’m learning, is a key spot!

A Diverse Parish. St. Anne’s is different than other communities I have been part of. There is a rich and large diversity present here that is part of the entire community. Masses are celebrated in English, Spanish and French Creole. (Yes – I spoke in Spanish when I introduced myself at the Spanish masses – !O Dios Mio!) Not only are liturgies and ministries in different languages but great efforts are made to make sure these three communities come together for prayer, recreation and service of those in need in the community.

Being the Seminarian. It is different living and working as a seminarian as opposed to having a “specific” job or role. In many ways, the same is probably said for parish priests. It is hard to focus solely on one specific parish ministry when there is so much happening. So I hope to be involved in lots of things and it looks like that will happen, for sure! On my first day I learned a lot about the community and was able to learn about some financial aspects of parish life – very important learning for a seminarian. I can see already where each day will bring new and surprising challenges!

So I am back in New York and hopefully building off of my experiences from the last year and the last three weeks!

Have a great week!