Monthly Archives: July 2006

It’s getting close to the time when the postulants are to arrive.

Today’s Feast Day–St. Sharbel–was easy for me to celebrate, but it’s not easy to think about what’s happening in the Middle East now.  This is certainly a time to pray.

A podcast find:  Audiocave–Spoken Word Records

Also, you can watch an episode of the corny old 50’s sci-fi show:  Flash Gordon 

Hope you are doing well.

Hey, I didn’t realize today is the feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Compiègne!  Their story is one every Catholic should know.  Unfortunately, I haven’t found a good version of the story on the Internet.

"But in life be strong, because there are easier wrongs
And much tougher rights"

Brian Webb–from the song "Give"

Here’s an interesting entry:  American Catholicism is 200 Years Old.

Yes, the first Cathedral was dedicated 200 years ago in Baltimore.

Meanwhile, the last of the Franciscan Youth Conferences here in Steubenville is in progress.  I just attended the Holy Hour tonight.  There was plenty of crying, sobbing, and stuff like that, as Jesus in the monstrance was carried around the Fieldhouse by Fr. Stan Fortuna.  Crying may sound bad, but it’s all good.  There was plenty of praise and worship too.  You have to go to one of these to understand what they are like.  It’s quite hard to explain them.

Preparations are in place for the new postulants…  We have 6 postulants coming in this year.  Here’s a definition of "postulancy" from our own marian.org:

Once a man has completed the stages of vocational discernment and has been accepted by the Provincial and his Council, he enters the first stage of formation called Postulancy. During this period, he is associated more closely with the Marian community, its work, prayer, and community lifestyle. This allows him to become more intimately acquainted with the Marian way of life.

As a postulant, a man is not a member of the congregation, but he begins to learn about becoming a member, and lives the life of a Marian.

I thought I would get the scoop on marian.org  Here’s the new dates.

VOCATION DISCERNMENT RETREATS

Marian House of Studies

Steubenville, Ohio

September 22-24, 2006

October 13-15, 2006

November 3-5, 2006

December 8-10, 2006

Vocation website

I graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2000, and visited afterwards only occasionally.  Now that I’m back, I can see getting back into the scene shouldn’t be all that hard.  The city hasn’t changed all that much.

There’s a youth conference this weekend, so I plan on attending some of that.

I’m reading old issues of Our Lady’s Digest.  This should not be a surprise to anybody.

I have just returned to Steubenville, Ohio, for my new assignment here.  What is involved?  We shall see.