"And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told? Let them ring out loud till they unfold." (Nobuo Uematsu)
Name: John Brotemarkle
I am a seminarian studying for the Diocese of Wichita, KS. Currently, I am in my first year of theology studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO
visited *loading* times
Happy New Year! Yeah, it is a few days into the new year, but this is my first post of the year. Here's yet another rundown of the past several weeks.
Met up with several people that I had worked with over the summer. We worked for a summer catechetical program for the youth. Many of us met together and watched the new promotional video for other dioceses and had lunch and dinner together. The program's name? Totus Tuus. A great program, also helps foster vocations to the religious and priestly lives. Check out their website and their video (my first shameless plug of the year!).
Served almost all the Christmas Masses at my parish. Didn't do one of them because another seminarian took care of that. However, I did the evening, midnight, and early morning Masses. Still, I enjoyed serving and talking with the parishioners.
Christmas with the family was the usual, but I didn't get to enjoy unwrapping the gifts with them, as I was either at Mass or asleep. But, we had a good meal and good times together. My brother had bought a Wii a couple weeks earlier, so we enjoyed some time on that. I got one of the best presents a person can get: a car! Its only the second vehicle I can claim ownership to - I had to share one with my other brothers.
New Years was usual as well. Party at my friend's house, watching the ball drop. However, he had to leave for work an hour before the ball dropped, because he's an officer - the busiest time of year for them.
Ended break on a diocesean retreat for those interested in joining the seminary. Its called Quo Vadis or "Where are you going?" Its three days at a retreat house, listening to talks, plenty of prayer, getting to know each other, and getting to know the seminarians. I had to drive back to St. Louis the next day, so I bailed out earlier, but got to some guys.
Started the new semester out with the seminary retreat. It was five days of silence at the Cedar Creek Conference Center. Located in New Haven, MO, just an hour away from St. Louis, a very relaxing place. (My second plug of the year!) The retreat master was the Most Reverend Salvatore Matano, Bishop of Burlington, Vermont. I really enjoyed his talks, he spoke on the four pillars of formation and how we should approach them as well as apply them to our lives as future priests. He also spoke of our role in the Church today and in the future.
Tragedy struck during the retreat though. In the middle of this past week, a young boy from a nearby area was abducted. We prayed for him, his family, and his abductors. It seemed that our prayers were answered. They found the boy earlier this morning in Kirkwood, MO. Another young boy with them as well, one who had been missing for four years. Read about the story here.
Right now, we have a three day weekend before classes actually start. I'm just relaxing it away, getting myself ready for classes. Interesting thing is, the March for Life is next weekend, interrupting the schedule, but for a good reason.
I hope everyone's new year started off well, and continues to go well. For those who have classes, good luck this semester.
