From the Outside Looking In…

October 4th is the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi.  Beyond the “talking to the animals” reputation, Saint Francis sparked a movement of men and women that continues over 800 years later.  Franciscans take all different shapes, sizes, colors, and ministries.  Some live alone, most in community, but all in the charism of St. Francis in service to the poor and disenfranchised.

I was a Conventual Franciscan for 12 years and loved every minute of it.  I met many interesting people and had an opportunity to work all over the world.  I was challenged as well as extremely blessed with opportunity that arose from those challenges.  I remember my vocational journey as if it was yesterday and as I look at a reformed Franciscan community now and see the hopes and possibilities that exist with the great group of guys I am currently in communication with – I see the future of Franciscan life in the 21st century!

To all of my fellow Franciscans, I wish you a happy feast day.  Tomorrow, October 4, 2009, on the Feast of Saint Francis, I will be ordained to the Catholic Priesthood, surrounded by my family and friends.  There is no fuller way to experience the wonders of the Franciscan movement than to be made a servant at His altar.

Pax et Bonum!  Peace and All Good!

So yesterday was not a typical ‘principal day.’  Our wonderful physical education teacher was ill and my teachers are already overburdened and overworked this early in the school year that I could not cancel P.E. classes as I would have normally last year.  So, in the spirit of collegiality and the desire to wear track clothes to school, I taught all 5 of the scheduled P.E. classes.  What a treat!  Kind of…

First, it has been a while since I taught 5 classes through the day in addition to doing the principal-ish things I have to do during the day.  When I was a principal in NY, I taught 1 class a day which was a Middle School Spanish class and that was sometimes tough with the unscheduled events that fill a principal’s day.  But this P.E. time was refreshing in that I had a wonderful time with the students.

We began each class with a jog from the school, around the block, and to the recreation center we use for P.E. and recess activities.  A few calisthenics and each class was ready to play.  Younger students were treated to a series of relay races (get tired! get tired! get tired!) and the older students absolutely LOVED kickball.  Yes, a good old fashioned game of kickball.

We jogged back after class and went back into the school for the rest of the day.  It was a success…and I was able to get some administrative work done, including lunch supervision, through the day.  I was exhausted at the end of the day, but feeling as if I got two major things accomplished:  allowing my teachers to have a planning period, and getting a workout in during the day so I did not have to go to the gym after work!

It is a rainy Sunday here in the DC area, a rainy weekend to be exact. I am ok with that, I like the rain – and since it is basically keeping me indoors for much of the day I am taking this opportunity to move some furniture around the house and repurpose some items that we have laying around. I will channel my “inner Martha” and, since I have a marathon of Martha shows playing on the television, her voice will be heard to others in the house today and not just me when I hear her voice during the school day.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to visit with a community in New Jersey to witness and participate in the celebration of three new deacons added to the Catholic Church. It was a lovely opportunity (I’ve been using the word ‘lovely’ quite often recently…don’t know why) to see a friend, MRB, who I last saw as I was on staff at The Catholic University of America here in DC back in 2001. MRB is a transitional deacon to be ordained to the priesthood some time in December. He currently serves as Chancellor of his diocese, a pretty big position if you ask me! I was also able to meet up with a few bishops with whom I have only spoken on the phone – that was fun! This weekend offered me an opportunity to network and even meet some local Baltimore clergy who came down for the celebration. It was fun!

Making the drive back yesterday, I thought of my own pending ordination to the Catholic Priesthood next Sunday, October 4th, on the Feast of Saint Francis. My family is driving down for that and we will have many clergy coming in from around the country to celebrate…but over 11 years as a Franciscan Friar makes this date even more special. As I look to another Franciscan community that is more inclusive and will soon hopefully be admitted to full membership, I now turn back once again to my Franciscan roots as a source of strength and identity. This week will be one of preparations and prayer as I move closer to ordinations – something I thought was once impossible having left the Roman church in 2004. A short time after that I found the Independent Catholic Movement, a community of hundreds of thousands of people around the world who are Catholic but look to the church as an inclusive and welcoming community, free of restrictions on those who wish to participate and join in membership. We are not a restrictive community, but one that embraces. As I look to the local American Catholics for support in ministry and service to others, I will look to the future of the Church as it is now unfolding. A future of hope and optimism, free of barriers to love and free of institutional discrimination.

But, first, I have to move the couch.

but no BOOM. Just the ticking of the clock as it strikes 3:09am. I am sick.

Illness has been going around school since the first day, mostly colds and sniffles, but now more serious illnesses like strep throat and high fevers shared by both student and staff. I left school Wednesday evening with a sore throat and tried to attribute it to all of the talking I did that day – well, no such luck. This morning I tried to just relax but yard work was needed to be done after all of the rain we had over the last week that I just could not stay in bed all day as I would have liked. Rather, as LC was kind enough to take the jeep and do grocery shopping for our weekly meals, I was pushing the lawn mower and pulling up tiny weeds between the beautiful flowers he and I planted a while back. Next week we are going mum crazy and planting very colorful mum in the front and sides of the house. I most definitely will take photos of that!

But, right now, I cannot sleep with a stuffy nose and now sit in the office with a glass of pomegranate juice next to me and a keyboard in front. Sunday will be my day of rest…

Well, after a month’s hiatus, I am back.  The last month has been filled with preparations for school.  I have been interviewing, hiring, ordering and sorting through textbook orders, setting up teacher professional days and the list of tasks goes on and on.  I do have to admit that I wanted to blog many times this past month but the energy level just wasn’t there.  With the longer work hours (yes, can you believe that they can get even longer!!) have really kicked my butt!  Luckily I am not laboring much on this Labor Day holiday and I am home from work with little on my to-do list today other than work on a web page I am developing for a friend.

The month of August, as quickly as it passed, ushers in a new school year and last week was our first week of school, complete with the extended day.  I do have to say that the additional hour attached at the end of the day has been kicking everyone in the tail – it just is a long day, plain and simple.  Sure, I can sugarcoat it by saying that we now have more time on task with the students, but it doesn’t materialize that way.  Lunch gets longer, other non-instructional activities are introduced to the school day, I am even tempted to state that there is less time on task with an extended day than we had last year with one hour less.  Time will tell, but the early reports from the polls are in!

Sitting here at home, in my pajamas on a cold and rainy morning, the coffee cup ever full and steaming on my left – this is a great day!  Yesterday LC and I biked a total of 39 miles from the condo to Mount Vernon.  Essentially, I am extremely sore and can barely walk.  So sitting is doing me just fine right now.  I can’t complain, I do have the best mate who fills my coffee cup if needed and has been very gracious in helping….err, enabling me…this morning.  I should be ready for school tomorrow if only a bit sore.  Luckily we biked yesterday and had perfect weather.  The bike trip was originally scheduled for today and we would have been rained out.  The luck of the gods has been on our side!

So I will continue to sit here in the office as LC reviews a case for work.  The tippity-tap of our computers will be the background music of the day, I suppose, as my body heals.  Not bad for a day off!  And, yes, I’m back!

As I type this entry this afternoon, I am loading my extensive collection of Gregorian Chant onto my computer, and then my iPod.  I have recently gotten back to listening to my chant, especially in the evening after coming home from work.  Chant was very important to me when I was in religious life as it helped center me after a long day’s work.  As those of you who know me, I am often quite difficult to calm down and ‘take a moment’ for myself.  My life has always be one that is on the go and the summer is no different.  If anything, I find my summers more intense than the school year because an entire year’s preparation has to get done in such a short time frame that the days in the office are go-go-go as my office staff can attest!

I have been involved more and more with the American Catholic Church and am quite excited about the possibilities that exist in working with them.  They are a group of committed Catholic priests who embody the “worker priest” model that was quite popular in Europe and lead communities of people and hold ministries at hospitals, nursing homes, and military chaplaincies.  The good news is that the communities are thriving and growing week by week throughout the country.  The challenging news is that often these communities do not have enough ministers to effectively meet the needs of the people.  National statistic, I know…but maybe one I can help address by my return to ministry.

The beauty of the ‘worker priest’ movement is that I would not have to leave what some consider my secular job.  Sacramental ministry would be done in accordance with my work ‘in the world’ which is currently school administration.  There is a great need here in the DC/Maryland region and, sadly, no one to lead it.  I may be that person.  Listening to this chant is a reminder to me of the beauty of simplicity.  No musical interludes or background tracks, simple expression of voice coming from the heart.  Sometimes done alone, other times in unison with others, chant is a centering and meditative form of prayer and worship that dates back to as early as the 11th century.  Ten centuries later the beauty is still rich and inspiring no matter how young the listener.

More on the worker priest movement later…

Not that I am complaining!  Today is Friday and I am beginning to pack for my week away to Rehoboth Beach beginning on Monday.  I am so looking forward to the beach (the house I am staying in is 1 block away from the beach!!)  My school-based staff is growing exponentially and that means we will be able to provide the students with even more services specifically targeted to meet their needs.

But, Rehoboth…yea, it’s all about me.  Can’t wait!!  This will actually be the first time I will be there, the closest was last year when the principals spent a few days in Bethany Beach, a neighboring town.

Have I mentioned that I can’t wait?!?

I am just back from dropping LC off at the airport.  He is on the way to North Dakota for work and will be back Friday evening.  Tonight I have an old high school friend who is interviewing in DC tomorrow spending a few nights at the house.  He is planning to relocate to DC from Rochester to continue his work as a Physician’s Assistant.

The weather is nice and the sun is shining – actually, the shining sun is calling my name.  It was one week ago today that LC and I were in West Virginia whitewater rafting.  This photo brings back memories…it was the photo LC took of me right before we boarded the bus to head over to the rapids.  I had no idea what to expect since the last rapids I took on in New Mexico back in 2001 were class 3 and 4…but these rapids last week were class 4 and 5, some of the most intense rapids since class 6 rapids are impassable.  We had a blast and you can see more photos from our adventure posted on my Flickr page.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there were two evil friars living outside this small village. The friars had tried unsuccessfully to overtake and capture the town, but finally this time, they believed they had hit upon a foolproof scheme that would allow them to rule the village. They had, through mad scientist experiments in their floral shop, come up with a plant that would devour the townspeople one by one until none were left. They set forth to put their plan into action by planting the man-eating plants so they encircled the village.

As the plants rapidly grew, they began devouring everything living in their path. The townspeople grew frightened; who or what would save them from their eminent doom? Finally, the town’s elder remember Hugh, a woodcutter who lived on the outskirts of town. Frantically, the townspeople penned a desperate plea for help, tied it to the leg of a pigeon, and directed the bird toward Hugh’s cabin.

Meanwhile, outside of town, Hugh had received the note from the townspeople, and realizing they were in grave danger, set forth to do what he needed to do. He honed his mightiest axe to razor-sharpness, grabbed his hat, and off he went.

Chopping his way through the dense vines, he single-handedly destroyed the carnivorous plants one by one, until all were destroyed. Then he set out to rid the village of the evil friars, chasing them out of town. The town was saved!!! The people rejoiced and knighted Hugh for his brave and timely efforts to save the village!!!

And the moral of the story is:

Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.

So, LC and I drove over 5 hours south to get away.  Yes, I know, sounds a bit extreme but this is part of my vacation week and it was much needed!  LC made all the arrangements, he is such a doll like that.  He made plans for us to stay at a B&B, a charming little place that was very private and extremely comfortable.  But it was not a time away to be spent sleeping and watching The View all day…the afternoon of our arrival we had an off-road mountain biking adventure.  Four hours of hills, technical maneuvers, splashing through mud, impassable paths where we had to carry our bikes over fallen trees.  Yes, 20 miles of mountainous off-roading where, in the end, I was covered in mud and a few scrapes from tree branches that just wanted to reach out and touch me.  Sounds like fun, right?  Well, it was!  I enjoyed every minute of it and the scrapes will heal and be forgotten about…but the adventure will remain long in my memories!

The following morning, as sore as we were, was not a day of rest even though it was the Sabbath, after all!  Instead, we took part in a 6-hour whitewater rafting journey through class 4 and 5 waves.  If you don’t know what that means, well let me explain.  According to the International Scale of River Difficulty, Class 4 waves are: long rapids; waves high, irregular; dangerous rocks; boiling eddies; best passages difficult to scout; scouting mandatory first time; powerful and precise maneuvering required. Demands expert boatman and excellent boat and good quality equipment.  Class 5 waves are: exceedingly difficult, long and violent rapids, following each other almost without interruption; riverbed extremely obstructed; big drops; violent current; very steep gradient; close study essential but often difficult. Requires best person, boat, and outfit suited to the situation. All possible precautions must be taken.

LC was thrown out of the boat twice and had to be “rescued” where we basically meet him at the end of the rapid where the water is calmer and he ends up floating, trying to stay above the water and away from sharp rocks under the current.  We grab him and pull him back into the boat and paddle to the next rapid.  It was a blast!  Yours truly did not get thrown over…I had done this once before in New Mexico and fell in love with wahitewater then.  It took LC to get me back out on the rapids and it was a tremendously exciting day!

We had 7 people total in the 14-foot raft, including our rafting guide.  The rest of the boat were good ol’ boys from North Carolina, and we were all about the same ages which made it fun.  More photos from LC’s waterproof camera are coming soon!  Here I am mountain biking…