Over the past several months, the hot button issue of health care reform has been on the front pages of newspapers and covering our television screens. As Congress begins to proceed with discussing the particular health care reform bills, the Bishops’ conference has asked ALL parishes and dioceses throughout the United States to stand up for our belief in the dignity of human life.

This week, the Bishops started a nationwide campaign to have Catholics throughout the United States send letters to their Congressmen and Senators.

Hello all!! On Friday evening, my time in Orlando for mid-semester break came to a close as I returned to the seminary to begin the second quarter. The break was not as restful as I had hoped it would be, but it was a good break nonetheless. It included volunteering at the parish office for a brief amount of time, vocations talks, and visits to old friends and family.

The first day I was home, I traveled up to St. Augustine to join in on the festivities for Sr. Kathleen Power’s 50th Anniversary as a Sister of St. Joseph. (For the last couple of years, Sr. Kathleen has been serving as Assistant Vocations Director for the Diocese of Orlando.) During the Jubilee Mass, I was given the opportunity to serve with two seminarians from the Diocese of St. Augustine as well as two other seminarians from the Diocese of Orlando. What a beautiful Mass it was!! Fr. Miguel, our Vocations Director, concelebrated at the Mass and gave the homily, recalling how the Sisters of St. Joseph have a played a pivotal role in the formation of countless young Catholics throughout the State of Florida–myself included.

On Monday of the break, I spent the majority of the day at St. Charles, helping around the office. Every chance I get, I try to do as much as I can for the parish that raised me; it is my way of saying thank you. While I was there, I got to spend some time with the parish staff and share with them a little bit of my journey this year at St. John Vianney.

Hello all! I apologize for the low number of posts for the last couple of weeks. Academics always have a priority, especially this week with mid-semester exams. Now, to make matters worse, I have some kind of virus that will keep me out of the classroom until tomorrow night. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will be home next week for mid-semester break. See most of y’all then!!

Bye for now….