As we usually do, we attended the Easter Vigil tonight. In some ways, this Easter Vigil was special. Our parish built a new Church and it was the first Easter Vigil in the new Church. We also have a newly ordained priest assigned to our parish and this was his first Easter Vigil as a priest.
For those you unfamiliar with this particular Mass, it starts out with the priests & deacons starting a fire in the entrance to the Church. A few days ago, I saw our parish’s Plant Manager carrying the uh… no clue what it’s called and I said, “Oh! It’s the fire thingie!” You’d think the mother of a seminarian would know the proper term for it.
When you go into the Church for the Easter Vigil, it’s dark. Mass started at 8 but we got there early. It was still light out but as it the time crept towards 8, you could see the light through the stained glass windows fade. It seemed like someone was outside hitting a dimmer switch.
It’s late so I’m tired and all over the place tonight. Remember a while back I said I was asked to write something about being the parent of a seminarian for a new website our diocese was preparing to launch? It’s now live. If anyone is interested in checking out the website, use the email link to contact me & I’ll send you the url.
Yes I did initially have that information here but it revealed way too much – our last name, our parish… I don’t want that stuff posted here for the entire world to see but I’d be happy to share it via email.
Very cool, Monk.
One question. Stephen mentions that he’s changed a lot, and now he looks forward to returning to Brooklyn/Queens to be a priest. Did he have in mind, earlier, to live overseas?
Thanks, Monk. I really enjoyed reading it. Give my Easter wishes to the rest of your family.
[quote comment="4467"]Did he have in mind, earlier, to live overseas?[/quote]
No. It was more about the process of discerning whether or not he had a vocation to the priesthood. When a man enters the seminary, it’s not a given that he will definitely become a priest. Over the years, Stephen has felt more strongly that he IS being called to this vocation.
About a year ago, Steve attended the wedding of a friend. He had mixed feelings about going. He thought it would make him feel bad, seeing what he would be missing out on. Instead, he found that the idea of being the priest who is joining 2 people in the sacrament of marriage was just as wonderful.
Happy Easter Monk!
I loved the pieces by both of you!
I completely wasn’t paying attention when I posted those links. Not only does it reveal our last name & diocese (which I knew but didn’t care about) but the town we live in & our parish. I think I’m going to have to remove those links. That’s way too much information. I’ll leave ‘em for about a week to give my regular readers a chance to see them but then they’re gone.
Going to read right now….if my stupid dial up will let me
So..since you are running out of things to blog about I am making it my mission to help….
1. your daughters college experience. Her major, what she wants to do with it when she gets out, how she likes it (I’m just starting down that road so I need to see what it’s like)
2. The cooking for a cause blog. I hate that I got that whole Idea started and then dropped it. Maybe if you blog about it some of your readers will have ideas on how to get it going again (I have another reason I will email you about)
3. How you and Frank met….I do remember part of the story but I’m sure there were some things in that first meeting that were memorable.
4….I’m still thinking.