It's been a while

It has been a while since I last posted. I am now living in Sioux Falls at my parent's house until I move back up to the seminary later on this month. This past week was kind of boring because the majority of my friends are in the working world now and it is tough to get a hold of them sometimes. Between going to Mass and reading and praying there has not been too much excitement. The seminarians for the diocese gathered together for retreat last weekend. It was a good time to spend on retreat. We had a Franciscan hermit (who happened to be a distant relative of St. Pio of Pietrelcina) and the foundress of a Capuchin Monastery in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, Diocese. There were five talks, each of them focusing on things common to the priesthood in both the religious life and the life of the diocesan priest.

This coming week is filled with quite a few things. The one that I have been looking forward to for the longest is taking place at the Carmelite Monastery in Alexandria, SD. About five years ago my friend, Laura Irvine, entered the Carmelite Monastery. Since I was in St. Paul and without a car, I could not get back for the various celebrations (receiving her habit and religious name and her first vows). This coming Friday will be the first time that I have seen her in five years. Please pray for Laura (now Sr. Mary Joseph of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus) as she prepares for this moment in her life.

The next day a couple of friends of mine will be getting married. I am excited for this wedding, as well, because I will be able to see many people that I have not seen for quite a while.

The last event this coming weekend takes place on both Sunday and Monday. The event is a fundraiser for the Broomtree Retreat Center. Sunday evening there is a banquet including a silent and live auction and Monday there is a golf tournament at the local country clubs. This is a big fundraiser for the retreat center and it is always fun to help with this event.