20051130 :::
 

At RCIA last night, we prayed the Rosary & talked about the importance of Mary. Wouldn't you know it: this was the one night I forgot to bring my own rosary. The dismissals start this coming Sunday, so I have to attend the 10am mass so as to help "dismiss" Alex. He invited me out with some others now in the program who will go out Thursday night to a local pub.

::: at 13:41

20051128 :::
 

Father Fidel conducted the evening mass last night: it was only the 3rd or 4th time I've been at a mass he's conducted, even though he's been our pastor since July 1st. Yesterday was the beginning of Advent. Father's homily was long & a little rambling. The text was about not being asleep at the Watch when the Master returns, but he sort of drifted & started talking about the Culture Wars (I think--he didn't use that specific term), & the changes he's seen in a small Mexican town near where he grew up. The mass went on a good 15 minutes longer than one of Father James'. Actually, I was a bit unfocussed last night, too. My mind kept wandering & I found it very hard to concentrate on the liturgy. It was as if my mind was still on holiday.

The gospel reading itself really grabbed me, though. Got me thinking more than most. When the Master comes, I not only want to be awake, but also doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Sometimes, I get distracted & forget what I'm hear for: to glorify God & manifest His will. Sadly, it seems like it's only a fraction of the time that I actually do that. I have no desire to be caught doing something I'm not supposed to be doing when the Master returns.

Continuing with the normal prayers. For a while, it seemed like Achilles was back on board: last week, he was saying the prayers & even singing the hymns; last night, he was back to his old silent self during mass. Artemis has even stopped walking down for a blessing lately (she can't take communion as she's never officially been part of the Church--not that seems odd that Achilles is Catholic, but Artemis isn't). My prayers are fervent: I want the 3 of us to wind up in Heaven.

::: at 11:15

20051121 :::
 

Feast of Christ The King

So we come to the end of another year. This has been a busy one. As the late John Paul had designated this period "The Year of the Eucharist," I've really taken all that to heart & tried to focus on this precious gift lately. I like that fact that there is a specific focus to a given year; I came into the Church during the Year of the Rosary, & it really helped to stimulate & motivate my faith.

Tonight's mass was really extra special, as we had both of our choirs, the English-singing & Spanish-singing, on hand. That usually only happens during Holy Week, so it was a nice treat. Father James led the mass, & gave a good homily about the Goats & Sheep, & seeing Christ "in his most distressing disguise," as he quoted the Blessed Theresa of Calcutta. I thought about that, recalling how I had rebuffed a poor, old drunk man (at least, I assumed he was drunk), asking for money a few days ago. I basically insulted him so that he would leave me alone, as I distrusted his motives. I wonder if I would have handled it differently now. Artemis ran into her friend & classmate Cara after mass, & they helped arrange, with a lot of other volunteers, all the canned food that had been donated to feed the 125 families our parish is supporting this Advent season (she got about 15 minutes of credit for her service hours). This year, each branch of the parish had been given a specific item: the 6th grade, for instance donated stuffing; RCIA donated turkeys; CCD canned vegetables, et cetera.

I finally turned in the annulment papers this past week--like a lot of things I'd been procrastinating about it for a few months. One of the reasons why it took so long was like I didn't like the picture of me emerging from that time of my life. This was long before I joined the Church, but I still don't like that younger self very much. Now I have to turn in copies of my marriage license & "civil" divorce decree. As I haven't rooted them up yet, it seems I'm putting that off, too. Dear Lord, help me to be more bold.

::: at 05:44

20051114 :::
 

The gospel reading for this Sunday was the Parable of the Talents: Fr. James explained how talents weren't really money in the conventional sense, but giant gold ingots that would weigh over 80 pounds. He also said that he had looked up their value in contemporary terms, & discovered that each would have been over $600,000, or considerably more than the average servant would earn, perhaps in a lifetime. Hence, the Master was giving them something quite valuable. I do feel that have been given so much; only hope that I'm adequately returning that which has been given.

Achilles had his youth group meeting prior to last night's mass (our usual 7pm attendance). He wound up sitting with the youth group people afterwords--he was afraid that I might've been upset, but I actually prefer him doing that, as I think he both gets more out of it & also is more likely to participate in the liturgy of the word (singing & response) whilst with others. Poor Artemis was stuck with me & didn't much like it.

It turns out that the person I'm sponsering, Alex, was there last night, also. Would have invited to sit with Artemis & me, but he was with another RCIA candidate, April, who is blond, just turned 21, & therefore I figured he might not want to sit with us.

Have to start preparing for CCD class today. Last week, we discussed the Transfiguration & the Suffering Servant (from Isaiah). I'll miss Carolina, as she joins the RCIA class tomorrow (which means I'll still see her, but will miss her fresh & penetrating questions in CCD). Had recommended that she be moved up, as she's older than the other CCD students, both chronicologically & mentally.

::: at 10:32