Ch...Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes

turn to face the strain... Ch... Ch... Changes... As you can see I made some minor changes to the webpage, but I am still working on some things. Speaking of changes, it is now official: Rev. Thomas Hurst (pictured left) is our new rector at St. Mary's! It will be strange next year that the incoming guys who come to seminary early for orientation will arguably know the rector better than the returning students since they will have about four days with him. I am looking forward to the getting to know Fr. Hurst and I think we all are happy that this process has finally come to a close - we all tend to fear the unknown. It's hard to believe that I will be entering into 3rd theology next year... it just seemed like yesterday that I started. Oh well, such is life.

So, I decided to make this blog a little more graphic, as you can see... so there are a few more links, but most of the old ones have been transferred to buttons that were either made or stolen (legally of course :)) The one that I would really like to call your attention to is Kiva.org. I don't believe that I have written about this before, but it is a way to get involved and make a difference by financing microloans - lending money to people in need and when it gets repaid you can help finance others. One of my friends at school, Mike Neugent, who will be ordained to the diaconate next week in Trenton (sorry no link), showed me this group and we are both checking it out. So far I have been very pleased and hope to give more information as my loanee begins to pay back her loan. Feel free to check it out and stay tune for more updates.

So, while I am typing, I am also watching the Big East Championship game for baseball and it looks like the team will put the exclamation point on a great season for RU. Not only did RU football finish #12 and won the Texas Bowl and the Women's basketball team made it to the Championship game, but it looks like the baseball team will be on their way to the NCAA tournament and perhaps the College World Series. Still a long way away as there are 64 teams that make the tourney and only 8 to Omaha, but this is step #1. They are up 7-1 going into the 9th.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy Memorial Day and continue to be thankful for all of the men and women who gave their lives so that we can live with the freedoms that we have today. Drive safe and remember to buckle your safety belts (especially if you don't want a ticket!). May God bless you always and I will talk to you soon.

And now... Your moment of Zen - an addicting game... enter your top score under "St Marys and friends" if you dare :)

Back at last!

Yes, Yes I know, same old Keith not updating for eons at a time... well, I came back, much like Chloe did to all of our delight (well mine at least)... I was worried when I saw the previews of her falling down that she was going to be killed in the final episode, but luckily she was just tired and we found out she was pregnant too! Hopefully this means she is on for a loooong time! I have heard lots of people comment how they liked the ending of 24 this year since it tied up all the loose ends and kind of ended on a high note rather than a shocking downer... but I still think it was missing a little something... this is the first time I don't remember really wanting to see what is going to happen next year right away. I guess it will keep us in suspense once the next season roles around, but there is little to wonder or worry about over the next few months, other then when the heck are they going to kill off kim... Anyway another big thumbs up from me on this season although season 2 is still my favorite.

As for the only other show I watch on a regular basis, The Sopranos is off and running quite well, but I am a little bummed that there are only two episodes left of it. I was a bit shocked when I saw Tony use a little American History X action last week, but nothing quite hit me as Tony taking out Christopher... should be a great ending this month.

Now, what else has been going on... lots... I am done with school for the semester and it was a really good year, but I am also happy to be in a parish now. I am located at Our Lady of the Mount in Warren, NJ and will be here until the beginning of August. I just moved in yesterday and hit the ground running. It is a wonderful parish and I have already begun visiting some of the primary care facilities and doing some office work. Wednesdays will be my day off so hopefully I will be able to see you all sometime soon.

I also moved into my new room at the seminary... It is only two doors down from my old room, but it is bigger and nicer in my humble opinion. I think the most important thing is that it made me get rid of some of the garbage that I had accummulated over the past three years, which was quite substantial. I still have tons of stuff, but am working on whittling it down. I just read an article on msnbc about the amount of things college students throw out and that schools have really begun to work on giving this stuff to the needy, which I think is great since most of the time we just throw things out. I am definitely in this category of people that needs to work with less stuff that I get atteched too, I have a long way to go.

I have gone to a couple of ordinations recently. In our diocese, Rev. Mr. Jack O'Kane was ordained to the deaconate and Rev. Mr. Bede Kim will be ordained to the priesthood on June 2. Then, last week I went to Trenton for their priesthood ordinations. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to their deaconate as it occurs on the same day as our priesthood, but am planning on going to my friend Mike's first Mass as a deacon. That weekend is going to be crazy as it is also the weekend of John's wedding and Fr. Joe and Fr. Tim's (from St. Bernard's) anniversary celebration. Not to mention the regular weekend work we have here at OLM. The ordinations were beautiful and once I charge the batteries for my camera I will upload some pics of Trenton.

OK, I am going to call it a night here, but promise that more updates will be coming more frequently. I continue to pray for you all and ask that you keep doing the same for me. May God bless you always!

And now for your Moment of Zen you know you all love doing it in real life, now you don't even need to buy anything!!!!