Summer School

I’m now a week into my summer studies. What can I tell you?

The class is good, different from what I’m used to but good. Lots to discover, new insights, new lessons learned, new ways of approaching Francis and his journey. We have lots to read and ponder and that will only increase over the days ahead. Hopefully enriching our lives as soon to be Friars.

Add into the mix the community time, the house duties (I’m the grocery boy and information provider - having parents who own a grocery store does pay off! :D ) and of course time for personal prayer, Mass, community prayer and our days are full.

I think we are all settling into a nice routine and we continue to discover interesting things about each other’s journeys. It is always interesting to understand what makes people tick… in a sense that is what we are doing with Francis over the course of our studies.

One thing that is true about Francis is how he kept focused on Christ. One of his biographers – Thomas of Celano said it this way:

He was always with Jesus:

Jesus in his heart,

Jesus in his mouth,

Jesus in his ears,

Jesus in his eyes,

Jesus in his hands,

he bore Jesus always in his whole body.

 

When I read this quote again yesterday, I was reminded that I too desire this in my life. This summer is another opportunity to deepen that desire to embody Jesus and wrap myself up in the life of Francis so I can encounter Jesus more intimately.

Here is to another week of growth, learning and community!

 

 

Blessings to all!

 

God Bless Canada - our home and native land!

 

Good People

Over the past week I have travelled, met up with my fellow Postulant Brothers, got settled into our ‘Summer House’ on campus, went through group formation, toured the area, prayed together and celebrated Eucharist. This graced time has been very life-giving and the classes only begin on Monday!

As I look back over the course of my life the one thing that God has blessed me with is good people in the journey at the right time. I look at the gift of my family; my parents and siblings, my Grandparents and relatives forming me, helping to shape a part of who I am and giving me roots. I look at my nephews and nieces and Godchildren how they have blessed my journey with so much joy, hope and excitement. I look at my dear friends who stayed by my side, who have loved me when it’s easy and when it’s not so easy. I look at former co-workers who came along side me and inspired me. I look at community members and parishioners who encouraged me and shared kindness. I look at my Postulancy Director and Postulancy Community of Friars and friends who took my foundation and gifts and called them out even more.

I now look at the Friar Guardian for this summer and my 12 Brothers that I will live with for the next 5 weeks and then during Novitiate. These men, my brothers are men of prayer, of service, and of desiring to follow Christ through the path of St. Francis. These brothers have proven themselves to be welcoming, kind, fun, good humored and good listeners. We come from all walks of life – artists, navy, engineers, students, and theatre (just to name a few), we range in age from 20 to 56 and we come from several different cultures – Iraqi, Mexican, Salvadorian, Filipino, American and of course Canadian. We are a unique group but a group that has bonded quickly, respects each other and will enjoy a journey together over the next 12 months.

 

I am so grateful for the blessings of good people in my life.

 

My schedule over the next few weeks will look a bit like this:

Morning Prayer - 7:45 am

Class – all morning

Afternoons – for studying, quiet, prayer and play

Mass – 4:30 pm

Evening Prayer or Night Prayer

 

Not to mention House duties, additional campus activities and Tim Horton's runs! (That's right Tim Horton's has gone south of the border!)

 

All taking place on a beautiful Franciscan campus, where we will walk to a gorgeous chapel to pray, off to a new classroom to study, into a huge dining hall to enjoy good food (when we are not cooking) and on paths to get some exercise, good conversation or quiet.

It is a full schedule but it will be so rewarding!

 

 

 

 

Francis is calling to me and my brothers.

We desire to live the gospel and share the good news.

God is at work in all of this. What more could I want?

Please pray for Abel, Javier, Daniel, Christian, Josh, Jay, Dale,

Josh, Nickolas, Fernando, Alan, Mark, Ron and myself.

(photo not in order of list and 2 are missing)

 

Know of my payers for you!

On the Road Again

Over the past two weeks I have been on the move. Lots has happened and even more will happen over the next few weeks.

My Postulancy Year is coming to close and what a year it has been! To think that in the course of the last 12 months, I resigned from my ministry, packed, moved, enter the Franciscans as a Postulant, settled into a Friary, embraced community life, deepened my faith journey, expanded my life experience through new ministries, met new people, stayed connected with 'old' friends, discerned more deeply, packed up again and moved my limited stuff back to my parents place, reconnected with family and friends and now prepare for my Novitiate Year.

The past two weeks have been full of surprises, hugs, blessings, hugs, crazy schedule, hugs, visits, hugs, preparing, hugs, familiar tasks, hugs, lots of communication, hugs, lots of preparing, hugs, little time for worry, hugs, heart to hearts, hugs, holding babies, hugs, prayer in the mix, hugs, unpacking, hugs, letting go of stuff, hugs, repacking, hugs, excitement, hugs, hopefulness, hugs. It has been very full but very good, many blessings have filled the past two weeks and past year. I am so grateful that my life is filled with many good and awesome people. I am so grateful for the gift of faith and the gifts of courage, hope, joy, and strength that come from it and also fill it.

Over the next few weeks I will be on the move again as I end my Postulancy Year and enter Pre-Novitiate. I will be going to Franciscan Summer School. I will be meeting up with my fellow Postulant Brothers, spending time in retreat, going to classes, living in community, meeting the larger Franciscan family and preparing for the Novitiate. It will be a grace-filled and exciting time.

After my summer studies come to a close I will journey back home. In my short time at home I will unpack and repack again, hug, let go of some more stuff, hug, spend lots of time with family, hug, celebrate a few special occasions, hug, pray, hug, eat good home-cooked food, hug and prepare for my year away at the Novitiate.

As St. Francis said, 'The journey is essential to the dream.'
My journey and dream is so deeply entwined with Francis and in the awesome love of Christ.
It has been full of richness, growth and blessings.
I am so excited for the journey to continue.
Being open to the adventure so far has only enriched the journey greatly!

May God continue to bless each of you,
may God smile upon each of you,
may God hold you close to the heart of Christ
and may your summer be filled with time to encounter our awesome God.

Know of my prayers, I humbly ask for yours.

I am uncertain of my schedule while at Summer School, but will try to blog a few times to have you join me on the adventure.

Worthy To Be Transplanted

Colossians 1:12-14
Give thanks to the Father, who has made you worthy to share in the lot of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.


This short piece of scripture reminded me of incident that happened to me this past year. The phrase ‘made you worthy to share the lot of the saints in light’ has been playing over and over again in my mind.

I have pondered how each of are made worthy through Christ and in Christ.
We are made worthy to shine our light into the world.
We are made worthy to be builders in the kingdom.

It’s easy to forget this worthiness.

In late February after returning from our visit to the Novitiate House I was lost in emotions of the week, pondering my future, feeling unsettled realizing that my routine would be upset again in few short months. I know that I can adjust to change and challenge myself to do so but also know I love the security of the familiar, not necessarily routine, but familiar. The psalm of that late February day was ‘Throw your cares on the Lord and the Lord will support you.’ It was in reading that psalm that I remembered that had promised myself I would put my whole heart into the this journey and year and enter into the relationships that would cross my path.

I still felt unsettled even known that God was so ready to take all my cares I was throwing God’s way. In my unsettledness I sat down in conversation with someone shared what was going on with my journey and how transitions can be tough, especially over the next few years, when you nicely feel like you put down roots and then get uprooted again.



As I shared these thoughts, this wise person whom I was sharing with asked me, ‘Have you ever gardened before? Do you like gardening?’

I responded that I had gardened and did in fact enjoy gardening.

I was then asked if I had ever transplanted a plant before.
To which I replied yes of course.

I then listened with great interest how this wise person created a beautiful image of plants be transplanted. I listened intently as it was shared how when we transplant a plant it goes from comfortable, rich soil and needs to have that in the new pot. If we were to leave that plant on the table it would just wither or if we don’t plant it in good soil or a good location it dies. It must go into rich soil.

This image lead the conversation to discussing how it is worth putting down roots, even if just for a short time, as it prepares us to be rooted again in rich soil. So that transitions become life-giving and fruitful, and we bear much fruit and we grow and our roots are strengthened and we become hardy and can adapt and grow through the changes, the uprootings, the storms and the growth.



My heart eased with this image and I felt deep peace and hope again. I knew I had thrown my cares upon the Lord and the Lord had indeed supported me. I am so grateful God always knows what I need to hear when I need to hear it.

I continually throw my cares upon the Lord and the Lord continues each day to support me and remind me that I am worthy to be in his light. That you - my family, friends, relatives, Friars, Poor Clares and the community with which I ministered and prayed with this Postulancy Year; who have shared in this journey are indeed very worthy to share in this light. It is good to be here, the soil has been rich indeed, and yes the time for transplanting has come, but the nourishment for the next planting is so great.

It is great because each of us are branches connected to the magnificent and glorious vine that builds the kingdom of God.

Let us continue to grow and build, let us continue to water and nurture the growing, let us trust deeply that we are indeed worthy Saints yesterday, today and tomorrow.

I was reminded… Bloom Where You’re Planted