Dancing Through Life
Wow! I was right when I said it might be a while before I got back here.
I have been more or less taking a break from my virtual life. I haven't really read a blog in weeks! I'm trying to stem the tide of "senioritis" as much as possible. So, I've been taking away some of my typical ways of distracting myself. My Netflix queue has stalled, so much so that I'm think of taking a leave of absence from Netflix. On the immediate horizon are four papers, which I must complete in the coming weeks. I'm also hoping to get off to visit some of the schools which I have applied to once the new semester begins--meet me in South Bend!
The last couple of weeks have been crazy but wonderful. I served as a deacon at my nephew's Confirmation two weeks ago. I got to be there right next to the bishop when he conferred the sacrament on my nephew and about 60 others. It was an exciting moment, a long moment.
Last weekend, I made a two-day trip to New Orleans to serve as deacon at the wedding of two of my former students. Check out my America magazine article from a couple of years ago--it was the wedding of two of the students I describe there as "Alex" and "Laura." I'm thinking of writing a sequel to my article, something like "Alex and Laura Get Married." The wedding was beautiful, and again I got to be right up there front and center as the two of them made their commitment to one another. I can't tell you how happy I was to be there. I also got to proclaim the Gospel, which was an honor! The wedding also provided the opportunity to see a lot of the other students who I haven't seen in a while, and most of the ones I wrote about in my article!
So, it was a consoling week of deaconing.
I have a formation meeting coming up in Louisiana, and on the agenda is some planning for my ordination as a priest in June. I will be ordained with one other man from my province, and I'm looking forward to sitting down with him and others who will be involved with the ceremony. I'll also be talking to my provincial about plans for next year which, unless there's a dramatic change (or I don't get accepted anywhere), will be studying at one of the schools to which I've applied.
My academic work in the coming weeks will have a lot to do with probing the theological perspectives arising during and after World War II, especially with regard to the question of doing theology "after Auschwitz." It's an important topic, and I think this will just be the beginning of my work in this area.
I will also be exploring the evolution of the New England Patriots from "America's Team" to the team everyone loves to hate (not really, I'll just be enjoying their pursuit of the perfect season, and hoping they don't choke in the playoffs). And, as I've made it to the final four, I'm hoping Tom Brady will help propel me to my fantasy football league championship!
Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas, as I don't know when you'll find me here again! Peace be with you!
I have been more or less taking a break from my virtual life. I haven't really read a blog in weeks! I'm trying to stem the tide of "senioritis" as much as possible. So, I've been taking away some of my typical ways of distracting myself. My Netflix queue has stalled, so much so that I'm think of taking a leave of absence from Netflix. On the immediate horizon are four papers, which I must complete in the coming weeks. I'm also hoping to get off to visit some of the schools which I have applied to once the new semester begins--meet me in South Bend!
The last couple of weeks have been crazy but wonderful. I served as a deacon at my nephew's Confirmation two weeks ago. I got to be there right next to the bishop when he conferred the sacrament on my nephew and about 60 others. It was an exciting moment, a long moment.
Last weekend, I made a two-day trip to New Orleans to serve as deacon at the wedding of two of my former students. Check out my America magazine article from a couple of years ago--it was the wedding of two of the students I describe there as "Alex" and "Laura." I'm thinking of writing a sequel to my article, something like "Alex and Laura Get Married." The wedding was beautiful, and again I got to be right up there front and center as the two of them made their commitment to one another. I can't tell you how happy I was to be there. I also got to proclaim the Gospel, which was an honor! The wedding also provided the opportunity to see a lot of the other students who I haven't seen in a while, and most of the ones I wrote about in my article!
So, it was a consoling week of deaconing.
I have a formation meeting coming up in Louisiana, and on the agenda is some planning for my ordination as a priest in June. I will be ordained with one other man from my province, and I'm looking forward to sitting down with him and others who will be involved with the ceremony. I'll also be talking to my provincial about plans for next year which, unless there's a dramatic change (or I don't get accepted anywhere), will be studying at one of the schools to which I've applied.
My academic work in the coming weeks will have a lot to do with probing the theological perspectives arising during and after World War II, especially with regard to the question of doing theology "after Auschwitz." It's an important topic, and I think this will just be the beginning of my work in this area.
I will also be exploring the evolution of the New England Patriots from "America's Team" to the team everyone loves to hate (not really, I'll just be enjoying their pursuit of the perfect season, and hoping they don't choke in the playoffs). And, as I've made it to the final four, I'm hoping Tom Brady will help propel me to my fantasy football league championship!
Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas, as I don't know when you'll find me here again! Peace be with you!
posted by Mark Mossa, SJ at 12:16 PM
7 Comments:
Thanks for the update! Sounds like you've had some good times. Waiting for school acceptances is interesting; we will find out about my son's acceptance to St X in early January.... like you, he's done all the work and now we wait with crossed-fingers for the results :)
Wow, Mark! Sounds like life has been full of life lately, which is a good thing, right?
What an amazing grace not only to be able to serve in the capacity of deacon but also to be so aware of the gift of witnessing sacramental moments, moments of deepest grace, so intimately!
May the journey to priesthood be filled with many like moments!
Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas!
It's nice to know that you aren't perfect Mark.
Your choice of favorite football team proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
I would have more sympathy for you if you were a Saints fan.
Maggie,
Hope that's not the only thing that tipped you off to my being less than perfect! There's plenty more where that came from!
And I am a Saints fan, too. But it's not my home team.
The Patriots won't choke. Alas. They handed off the choker banner to the Dolphins when the latter team played its last game in the Orange Bowl in 1986.
It is a wildly impressive thing to see you focused on the sacramental aspects of your Diaconate and (your eventual, Deo volente) priesthood. Have an ardor to bring Christ sacramentally to His people and all else will follow. Maybe even a 19-0 Patriots team. Maybe.
-J.
P.S. Steve, I feel your pain. We're sweating out our oldest's admission at Our Local Jesuit School. Also in early January. Yikes.
Merry Christmas!
I am hopping around the blogosphere to say "Merry Christmas" to my friends. May this first day of Christmas be blessed with peace and serenity and inner joy!
Merry Christmas! And may your first as an ordained person be extra blessed :)
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