In The Hole

I thought that life in a parish will be slow. But after just five months, I am beginning to feel that it is not so. For one thing, I am finding less time to blog. Preparing for the daily homilies keeps me glued to another part of the house and away from the computer. I spend more time working up a... Sign in to see full entry.

The "Seven Deadly Sins" is a collection of seven short stories, each of which is dedicated to one of the seven deadly sins: pride, covetousness, gluttony, anger, sloth, lust, envy. The stories were written by great writers too: Rachel Billington, Michael Carson, William Douglas Home, Andrew Greeley,... Sign in to see full entry.

When I got to the Philippines from Rome in May 1992, I thought that I'd be spending the rest of my life in our seminary teaching Scriptures, like some of the friars I knew in Italy. Since then, however, my journey through life has taken several twists and turns that I didn't expect would happen to... Sign in to see full entry.

Twenty years ago, I thought that my greatest weakness was in the area of chastity. It was sins against the vow that I kept confessing to my spiritual direction. For years now, I haven't found any reason to even think about it. Other things -- chiefly due to the fact that I am growing old and the... Sign in to see full entry.

These guys from the Shopping Network can be a pain. When I bought TimeWorks FX from them for use in our makeshift gym, I thought that that's it. But they got our phone number and my cell phone number and so now, every time they have something new to offer, they wouldn't stop hounding me with their... Sign in to see full entry.

nunc gaudeo in passionibus pro vobis et adimpleo ea quae desunt passionum Christi in carne mea pro corpore eius quod est ecclesia (Col. 1:24, Vulgate) I rejoice now in my sufferings on your account and I fill up in my flesh what lacks in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his Body, which is... Sign in to see full entry.

Mens sana in corpore sano is the classic guideline for keeping fit: "A healthy mind in a healthy body." The ancient greek gymnasium was a place for developing the mind through the arts and letters, and the body through sports. The classic ideal was to make both the mind and body of the citizen... Sign in to see full entry.

I just finished giving my talk for the seminar our parish sponsors every other month. The Parish Renewal Experience (PREX) Seminar is intended for helping parishioners renew their commitment to the Catholic faith. It also gives the parish priest an opportunity to get to know the members of his... Sign in to see full entry.

"Why do you softly preach? I can't barely hear your word above the din of my inner noise." "Why can't you speak aloud and shock me with gospel bombast moving my hardened heart to hardy repentance?" Sorry, my son, I won't. Truth is there; but you have to be there too. Empty yourself of this world's... Sign in to see full entry.

The subject of me going back to Rome for a doctorate degree came up for a second time this week. Just a few minutes ago, we were celebrating the birthday of one of the friars. Many of the friars from our houses in Luzon came to celebrate. Some of them are currently assigned in our main office in... Sign in to see full entry.