It's back to school for me, as for millions of others; I am working on a graduate degree in sacred Theology. Gee, another degree in theology! Well, yes, because that is what the Church has asked me to do.These past 2 days were filled with meeting the new men, getting to know the Dunwoodie section of Yonkers, NY and acclimating mind, body and spirit to a new way of doing things. St. Joseph Seminary is the place where men--mostly from the Archdiocese of New York--prepare for priesthood. There are 45 men in formation. The breakdown is:
23 for the Archdiocese of New York
2 for the Diocese of St. Catharines, Canada
1 for the Diocese of Bridgeport
1 for the Diocese of Loikaw, Myanmar
1 for the Diocese of Yangon, Myanmar
15 for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
1 for the Idente Missionaries
1 for the Schoenstatt Fathers
The numbers according to classes:
2 special students
10 in IV Theology (2010)
11 in III Theology (2011)
5 in II Theology (2012)
17 in I Theology (2013)
I pledged to myself to exercise a bit while I am in studies: being physically fit is not exactly my goal but it would be nice to slim down a bit and be a little more healthy. Hopefully the pledge will lead to some future glory but I'd be happy for weight loss. I kind of doubt that I'll be a paragon of health but my doctor may be more happy with me if I can shed a few pounds. So I've been walking the around seminary property praying the Franciscan Crown (7 decades of the rosary) and then around the Dunwoodie neighborhood. I am not likely to know the neighbors but I may get to know the place, including the churches and street names. So far, I am fascinated by the area which is easy for me since I love NY.
As I was ambulating down the street I ran into 2 ladies with their dog. One lady said to me "Afternoon Father. Nice day, isn't? Is it Tuesday?" To which I said it was. Her reply: "I thought you guys were let out only on Wednesdays." What does one say to that? The only thing that came to mind was, "Well, the nut jobs get out on Tuesdays, too." The lady laughed and said, "Father, say a prayer for me." Her sister told me not pay too much attention to her sister since she's the one who doesn't get out much. Continuing on I said the prayer I was asked to say, and than began admiring the the middle class neighborhood that I am living at the moment.
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