Diaconate Ordination Information Update!

Here are the details for my ordination:

On March 27th, 2015 at 6 PM at the St. Raymond Nonnatus, I with 4 other men will be ordained to the transitional (for I will be ordained a priest hopefully on May 21st, 2016) Diaconate.  The Ordination Mass will take about 2 hours and will be followed by a reception at the Cathedral.

St. Raymond Nonnatus Cathedral in Joliet, IL
Address is 604 N Raynor Ave, Joliet, IL 60435.

On Saturday March 28th my family will be hosting family and friends at our house from 1:00-4:30 PM. The address is 2292 Pontiac Circle, Naperville, IL 60565.

I'll be preaching and serving as a Deacon at Palm Sunday Vigil at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Naperville. Followed by a light reception at the church. The address for the church is 1215 Modaff Road, Naperville 60540.

We may have those who are staying longer return to the house or the hotel where family is staying afterwards. Stay tuned!!!

Please know you have my prayers!

Michael

A Lonely Heart is Never Again Alone!

It's been a while, I know!  So I thought I would just do a short blog to hopefully do a little kick start and start posting more blogs :).

When I was studying out in Denver at the Augustine Institute, I came across the following quote:

The Sacrifice of Jesus accomplishes the Father's eternal plan to unite humanity with divinity...never again should we be alone, shut out or lost. When we are in shame or despair, and there seems no way out, Christ is waiting for us in silent love! ~ Olivier Clement (Roots of Christian Mysticism)

In my bible study, I always discuss 4 parts to a journey: (1)origin, (2)destination, (3)path, and (4)purpose.  When we lose our origin, we become lost.  When we lose our destination, we wander.  When we lose our path, we get frustrated.  And finally if we lose our purpose, we fall into despair.  This physical truth found in every journey is also true in the spiritual life!  This is why it is so important to know our spiritual foundations of who we are (origin).  It is also important to know where we are called to go, otherwise we wander which a lot of people have been doing in the spiritual life (destination).  Once the origin and destination is figured out, it is important to start the journey (the path).  Finally and most important, the drive to complete the journey in the face of difficulty,  especially the spiritual journey (the purpose).

The quote above from Olivier Clement reaffirms our purpose! We are never again to be alone and despair!  Jesus Christ locked in our destination (I'm going to prepare a place for you), he gave us the path (I am the way, truth and the life), he gave us the purpose - to be united God in Christ, in a particular way to be united to God in the suffering ( Remember "anyone who wants to follow me, pick up his cross and follow me").  

As I get closer to ordination and loneliness strikes, I constantly draw upon this quote.  Christ has not abandoned me.  And though I may feel alone, I'm not quite so lonely.  The Lord awaits in his silent love.  The Lord awaits in his Word, in the Eucharist, in his Body the Church.  We are not alone my friends.  Never again!  The Lord is waiting for you in the silence!  Amen.