A Whirlwind of Blessings

So, on Wednesday evening, after getting back from having supper with a group from the Diocese of Charleston which is visiting Rome, I had a phone conversation with Bishop Guglielmone about topics that led to yesterday’s announcement of my assignment. After the phone conversation, I was psyched and just couldn’t sleep.

Thursday morning, I offered Mass at the Altar of St. Josaphat in St. Peter’s Basilica. It was good to be back in the basilica. Recently, due to studies and research, I’ve just been offering Mass in one of the chapels here at the priest house. St. Josaphat was a great peacemaker in the Church. He rests in the altar itself. Here’s a picture:

After Mass, I went and studied some. For a break from studies, I headed over to the Venerable English College. This is where the displaced seminarians and priests came for studies during the English Reformation. Many of them returned home, and died martyrs for the Faith. There’s a great exhibit on this history at the English College. I went to see the exhibit, but also to stage a scene in the mock “priest hole” in the exhibit. The scene was photographed by the Catholic News Service (CNS), and was used in its article on the exhibit. Check out the story. It’s currently the front page on American Catholic’s website. Here’s another picture from the CNS photographer:

After all that fun and some coffee and great conversation, I headed back to my desk to study for exams.

On Thursday evening, I had a phone conversation with Gus and Kathy, my co-hosts on the radio show, “Pathways to Rome.” We recorded a show on the Holy Father’s recent visit to the synagogue in Rome, the history and importance of Catholic-Jewish relations, and the questions surrounding Pope Pius XII. The recording went very well. Currently, it’ scheduled to run on Friday, February 19. I’ll post more details as time gets closer.

Later Thursday evening, I spoke with the Vicar General of the Diocese of Charleston regarding some details to Friday’s announcement, and then attempted to call all the seminarians of the diocese to let them know about my new assignment. It was decided that the seminarians should know about the assignment before the public announcement was made. I was impressed and encouraged by the excitement and support of the seminarians. They’re a great group of men, and I look forward to working with them as they discern and prepare for priestly Ordination.

Friday morning, I had an early study group, and then my exam on The Principles of Bioethics. After the exam, I came back to the priest house, had lunch, made my regular Friday Confession, and then headed back to the university for my exam on the Moral Act. I think both exams went well.

Later in the evening here (12 Noon EST), the announcement of my assignment was made public, and I was very inspired by the immediate phone calls and e-mails of support, especially from my brother priests. I hope to be a good Vicar for Vocations, Chaplain to Cardinal Newman High School, and parish priest at St. Joseph’s in Columbia. Please remember me in your prayers.

This morning, I spent some time with a friend who’s visiting Rome. We had a great tour of St. Peter’s Basilica (I really love that place!), and then went for lunch.

It’s been a packed and exciting few days. The Lord is truly kind and merciful. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 7:49 pm and is filed under Blog Archive. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.