New Teaching Job

Well, I have a contract for 2009-2010! I will be teaching at Deborah Brown Community School in Tulsa, OK. I am excited about this opportunity. It will be a challenging and rewarding school to work for!

Keep us in prayers!

Visit to Greg's

Well, this past weekend was a weekend of remembering and sharing. I had the opportunity to go to St. Gregory's Abbey, which is the heart of St. Gregory's University. St. Gregory's is where I spent my first two years of 'adulthood'. I graduated from there with my Associates degree and headed forth into the world.

St. Gregory's Abbey is the Monastery, the Benedictine monks that run St. Gregory's and have for over 100 years. One of the newer addition to the Fathers of St. Gregory's was my roommate when I attended St. Greg's, Fr. Boniface Copelin, O.S.B.. At that time, he was "Tim" and we both had aspirations to the priesthood. Quite a bit of time has passed but Boniface is a Priest and is continuing his studies in Rome.

For me, St. Gregory's is the home of my Faith. My first real Confession was walking up and down the entrance drive with Fr. Ian Riding, OSB, when Fr. Ian was not there, Fr. Louis would take the reins and walk with me. Priests of St. Gregory's showed me the incredible wisdom, love and peace of the Church. Fr. Joe, whom I adored, imparted a love of History. I eventually received a degree in History and never have stopped loving it since. Fr. Denis showed me the authority of the Church, the logic and wisdom wrapped up in a gruff demeanor. Fr. Theodore, even with his goofy 60's Theology, was the example of a pastoral Priest to his last days.

Br. Maurus, now Fr. Maurus, put Boniface and I together because we were both pipe smokers. We still enjoy a good pipe to this day and we enjoyed several bowls together during the course of the weekend. Accident or Insight, I am not sure but Fr. Maurus gave me something which I will treasure to my last breath. Being a part of that place is something I treasure and brings me back to sanity when everything seems off and lost. It is never lost when there.

The rythym of St. Gregory's, Vigils at 6:00, breakfast at 6:30, Lauds at 7:15, work, MidDay Prayers at 12:15, Mass at 5, Vespers, and Compline at 7:15 is a rythym which is orderly and prayerful. It is easy to see God at St. Gregory's and a part of the Heaven which the Monks 'advertise'.

I was blessed to be the server for Boniface's Masses for three days. Receiving Eucharist, the Body of Christ, from my friend is a very special experience. These past Three Days have been very special and I look forward to doing them again soon.

Urgent Pro-Life Action Needed

 

Urgent Pro-Life Alert July 22, 2009   Abortion mandate in health bill   The healthcare reform legislation currently before Congress contains an abortion mandate that is a grave threat to human life. The bill's language will result in federally mandated abortion coverage by nearly all health plans, recruitment of abortion doctors into local health networks, and the nullification of many state laws that place reasonable limits on abortion. The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) has called this legislation the "largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade."   We urge you to write to your senators and congressman today.  Click here where you can learn more about the health legislation and send a message to your two senators and congressman. To read a letter from 19 House Democrats who insist they will not support a health bill unless it explicitly excludes abortion, click here. Time is of the essence as congressional leaders want to pass the bill in the Senate and House by the end of July. A coalition of prominent pro-life leaders have arranged a Stop The Abortion Mandate live webcast for the public this Thursday, July 23rd, 2009, at 9 PM Eastern (8PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific). Please go to www.stoptheabortionmandate.com to register.

 

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Happy Birthday, Bill McGrew

Bill McGrew turns &(*&)(*^^&%^%$ todsay. Ooops, internet stuff! Bill is the 'baby' of the cousins. There is me (J), Terrie, Christina and Bill. Or is it Bill then Christina? You know, being the oldest, I was quite content knowing that I was the oldest so didn't pay attention to who was next in line! Isn't that arrogant of me?

Seriously, Happy Birthday, Bill! We love you!

Michael Steps up with Knights Of Columbus

Michael joined Knights of Columbus and has stepped up on the 3rd Degree Team (Knights have 4 Degrees - a 'full' Knight has taken his 1-3rd Degrees) shown above. Michael plays a part with me on the Degree Team and has proven to enjoy it and did very well. This is a great chance for father and son to share something regarding our Faith and spend time together. Michael is also Chancellor for our Council 4721. I am Deputy Grand Knight and his office is below me in the hierarchy, though barely, he is 3rd in line!

Congratulations, Michael, Dad is proud of you!

Bad Catholic joke of the week:

An old priest was dying. He sent a message for his banker and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the priest held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. He grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. Both the banker and lawyer were touched and flattered that the Father would ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled; he had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness, and avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats.

Finally, the banker said, "Father, why did you ask us to come?"

The old priest mustered up his strength and then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go."