I just returned to the friary in DC. I spent New Years Eve in Ocean City Maryland with some friends and the night before I was in Philadelphia visiting a friend who just returned from teaching abroad in Chile! It was a nice couple days and a great opportunity to be with some good friends who i don’t get to see to often! My drive back was uneventful and I am excited about the beginning of my LAST SEMESTER of school!
peace and prayers,
friar Matt
For the second year, I attended Midnight Mass at Holy Cross Cathedral in downtown Boston for the celebration of Christmas. Cardinal Sean O’Malley presided and preached. His message was of finding hope in Bethlehem and at the Eucharist today, even amidst the difficulties, war and economic crisis.
Mass was over at 2 am, and the city was fast asleep and still. It was peaceful, the world was truly at rest for awhile. I returned home and slept for a few hours. I exchanged presents with my family. Later in the morning, my family came over for brunch. It was delicious and great to be with my family. During the meal, my younger brother in the Marines called. He wasn’t able to come home for the holy days. He was sad and we were disappointed. The rest of the day consisted of family, friends and food! I am glad that I was able to be here for the Christmas break!
peace and good,
friar Matt
I arrived in Boston last evening after a LOOOOOOONNNGGGGG drive with plenty of traffic in New York and Connecticut. I came home and after saying hello to my mom and siblings I fell asleep for an hour. When I woke up, I met up with a friend of mine in downtown Boston. I went to mass this morning at my home parish. I got to visit with my associate pastor for awhile after mass. It was good to catch up with him. I am grateful that he is going to do the pre-Cana work for my sister and her fiancee.
Afterward, I went to see my brother, sister-in-law and theie family. The kids were singing me all the Christmas carols they knew and they were jumping all over me and wanting me to pick them up and throw them around. We had a lot of laughs! The rest of the afternoon was low-key as I caught up with my dad and brother over a cup of tea. We had a “discussion” about the children’s liturgy/pagent. We both had some strong opinions. I am going to go to the midnight mass at Holy Cross Cathedral.
merry Christmas eve,
friar Matt
I got a phone call from my sister this morning. She told me that her boyfriend proposed to her the previous evening. I thought that news was awesome, even more exciting was when she asked if they could be the first couples whose marriage I witness! I was so excited for them. I almost feel ready especially after taking my class on marriage this past semester!
peace and prayers,
friar Matt
I just returned late last night from Chicopee, MA. I love being in Massachusetts and any chance to visit the friars, unfortunately I attended a funeral :-(. The sister of my formation director died of cancer. She was 50 years old and had three young children. It was quite sad. I am glad we made the long trip back and forth to support Fr. John. I think that says something about our fraternity and always reminds me what it means to be brothers to one another
We drove up and stayed at St. Stanislaus Basilica. The friars were incredibly hospitable. I was glad I had the chance to visit with them and with a couple of our senior friars who are stationed at our Senior Friar Residence. I love hearing their stories about the order and their experiences of ministry, prayer and fraternity over the years. We were going to spend a second night, but the weather forcast called for ice storms. We didn’t want to press our luck, so we left around 8 PM, but we made VERY good time.
peace and prayers,
friar Matt
The last week has been rather hectic…. I was sick and recovering from pink-eye (yes I know, a 29 year old man with pinkeye!)
My semester has come to an end and I only have 1 final exam and it is a take home…
I was told that I will be ordained a deacon on April 4th, 2009…
My provincial came to town and we are looking at dates for my priesthood ordination and we had a conversation about my first assignment…
I have so much for which to be grateful and excited!
God is good!
During the previous two days, I drove 21 hours by myself. I returned home late Wednesday night to the friary and I was drained! I woke up at 7:30 and headed down to the kitchen to help prepare Thanksgiving dinner. When I arrived, Nick was already there with his mom and dad helping prep the turkey. I went to work on making the stuffing.. We took a break from cooking to attend mass. At mass, one of our friars preached about the chains of thankfulness that is woven through our lives,
After mass, we went back to the kitchen to put the finishing touches on the meal. We had friar Nick’s parents, a couple sisters and a friar who lives in the area join us for dinner. The meal was delicious I was impressed by how it all ended up. We had a lot of laughs and great conversation around the table.
After the meal was over I went to visit a family from St. Rose of Lima Parish. I have gotten to know them really well and they have become very special to me. They have been so kind to me over the years. It was a blessing to be included in their family celebration and with them for the evening.
peace and prayers,
friar Matt
On Tuesday, I drove from DC to SC for my younger brother’s graduation from the Marine Boot Camp. Jeremiah enlisted during senior year of high school. After he graduated he was sent to boot camp in Parris Island, SC. From what he told me and the letters he sent my family and me it was an intense experience that was culminated in an experience that was called the Crucible where they hiked almost 50 miles over a three day period with minimal food and sleep. INTENSE!
I was struck by the order and the simplicity of the graduation ceremony. I was moved when they marched into the hall and during the singing of the national anthem.. I was beaming with pride. His commanding officer addressed them and told them to remember the skills they learned during this experience. They were transformed over these 13 weeks from civilians to Marines.. He told them to never forget the skills and ideals they learned during boot camp. I found a connection draw between Jeremiah’s life and mine, their boot camp is like our novitiate, Our novitiate is a pivotal point I our religious life when we learn the skills to be a friar.
When the ceremony was over, I got to spend a little time with Jeremiah before he had to leave for his home leave and I had to return to DC. It was a blessing to be with him and get to see my family even if only for a little while.
peace and prayers,
friar Matt
I spent the eveinig at Holy Trinity in order to stay for Eric’s mass of Thanisgiving. It was cool that during my visit I was able to go to dinner with my friend Luke and his wife and to catch up with them. The next morning I went over to the church for Eric’s Mass. It was amazing to see a friar that I have known my whole life in the community to be clad in vestments, preaching and consecrating the Eucharist.
After mass, friar Nick and myself got in the car and drove to Chesterfield, NJ. We stopped in to visit and have a meal with Sr. Clare Andre and some of the other Poor Clares Sisters. We ordered in Chinese food and she wanted to know all abour our last year in DC, vows retreat and how we are doing. She has been one of the most important and consistent figure in my religious life. I have known and been friends with her since I was a first year postulant!
Peace and prayers
Friar Matt
This past weekend, I went up to New York City for the ordination of two of my Franciscan brothers to the priesthood. The ordination was held at Most Holy Trinity in Brooklyn, it was so cool to be there because I was stationed there a couple summers ago. The cool thing about the ordination was that I have been in formation with both of the friars since I entered the community.
The liturgical celebration was beautiful! Our first Conventual friar Bishop, William Callahan, joined us. Bishop William is an auxiliary from Milwaukee WI. This was the first priestly ordination he ever did! His homily was wonderful! He tied in some beautiful thoughts about the priesthood and our Franciscan charism.
The rite of ordination is an inspiring sacrament. It is moving when I see all the priests present lay hands on Eric and Justin and then seeing the two stand alongside the bishop praying the Eucharistic prayer! I was really excited when my provincial and some of the other friars reminded me that I am next!
peace and prayers,
friar Matt
Powered by WordPress