Tag: church

Some fun

We went to the Priests versus Seminarians basketball game tonight. It was at Rice University, in their basketball gymnasium, and the place was pretty close to sold out. This was the seventh year of the game’s history, and I was beyond excited to be there for it this time. Ever since I first heard about it, I wanted to go. This year, I finally made it happen.

Essentially, as I understand it, it is both a fundraiser for and awareness-raiser for St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston. It let’s people know about the seminary, while also raising funds for it in a very fun way. The current seminarians form a basketball team to play a single game against local priests, those who have already gone through seminary, be it at St. Mary’s or elsewhere. The first two years, the priests won. The next four years, the seminarians won. Tonight, the priests won. And not by only a few points.

The final score – and yes, that was a big lead, given how they started with a 7:1 follow at the end of the first quarter.

No, they were nothing like the March Madness games my husband had me watching just recently. Not even close. These are priests and future priests, not upper teenagers trying to get into the NBA. We were not here for mad skills, but for the fun of seeing seemingly very serious folks do something very fun and, well, normal. The first quarter ended with a combined score of eight points. These were not exactly future pros here – they definitely discerned rightly in their vocations (and in a career that makes a massive difference in a good way in society, so a big thank you to all of these guys for that!).

Seeing them play at all was already a treat. When they had really warmed up and the pressure was on in the second half, though, it was actually a very entertaining game as a game. It was just extra-impressive at that point, given that some of them, as my husband pointed out, did rather look as though they may never have played basketball [or any other sport, for that matter] a day in their lives. At least, not in their adult lives. Again, sports aren’t exactly their focus in the post-seminary life.

Nonetheless, it ended up being very fast-paced and exciting by the last quarter. At every point throughout the game, the whole place went wild, anyway. When points were happening so quickly near the end, it was like a constant up and down of screams and cheers. Plus, everyone cheered for everyone. Sure, folks cheered especially for their local priests or old fellow parishioner, but they all still cheered for every point. And like it was the greatest basket ever made. It was hilarious, really, and totally wonderful. And they actually played a good and athletically entertaining game. It was not hilarious because they were being funny. It was simply hilarious that everyone was on the same team, while officially having two separate teams. Plus, Inhave never before tonight seen a basketball game where no one gets angry… where everyone plays with authenticity… It was… awesome.

At the end, they all did a group picture together and were hugging and having a great time with each other. They really were and are all on the same team.

Also, being Catholic, the invocation at the start was the coolest thing I may have every experienced with prayer. The priest says, ‘Let us pray,’ and the entire population did the sign of the cross in synch, and most of them said a hearty “Amen” to go with it. It was like choreography for the masses. Very, cool and slightly spooky in the best way.

Thank you, God, for this blessing tonight. I am so grateful to have been present for such a wonderful event. Help it to continue to grow vocations in our local society, and help me to be a part of that. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

Ash Wednesday

Yesterday was Mardi Gras, also known in other states who know no French as Fat Tuesday. It is the day before Lent begins, the period of 40 days of meditation and fasting before the celebration of the coming of Christ, Easter. All the sugar and fat stores are meant to be used up on Mardi Gras, thus the name. This includes the idea that we will not be eating sugary or fatty things during Lent, even if they don’t come from one’s own making. The first day of Lent, as well as each Friday during it, is a day that specifically includes fasting and having no meat. That day is called Ash Wednesday. It is called so for that ashes are distributed to all, via a cross on the forehead, to remind us that we have come from dust and shall, one day, return to dust – we are the creations of God and will return to him after this life for eternal life. Ash Wednesday…

Ash Wednesday was today.

Today was also the feast of Saint Valentine, also known commercially as Valentine’s Day. It is a day filled with treats and commercialism and indulgence and, even, waste. It does not line up with the morals of Ash Wednesday… which was also today.

So, today was a bizarre Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday combination – one I haven’t known to happen previously in my life. Definitely interesting to have the solemn day land on and, therefore, trump the celebratory day.

But also interesting that, as someone noted today, “Lent” is right in the middle of “Valentine”, you could say at the heart of it… šŸ˜›

Interesting thought to have us reconsider how we want to do Valentine’s Day in the future, too.

Thank you, God, for your love and your creativity and your forgiveness and generosity. We love you. Keep us well, that we pursue and fulfill your will for us in our lives. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

The room was a buzzā€¦ with static

I went to adorationā€¦ for all of five minutes, and then I ditched. Why? I had to get out of there. Just as with every other time I have gone into that chapel, my ears were assaulted by the loud humm-buzz of what only could be a speaker not in use but on or terrible dimmable lightsā€¦ as we discovered today, it was both.

Iā€™ve been casually asking for years who is in charge of the technology of the place, but have always simply not received an answer. Today, however, when I couldnā€™t even stand to be in adoration, a place I wanted and love to be, I made it happen. I went to the offices and found someone who, though not officially in charge – turns out no one truly knows ā€˜whoā€™s in chargeā€™ there – had a key to all the locked doors and had authority to investigate the sound with me.

I explained to him my theory. When he had replaced the blessed sacrament back into the tabernacle, I got to troubleshooting. After only a few tries and one google search, I had my main solution: Yes, the amplifier hanging on the ceiling was left on all the time, thereby giving a constant feedback sound.

Displayed here:

After the massive sound was gone, we did find a much smaller one that ended up coming from – you guessed it – overhead dimmable lights.

Though the lights may or may not stay off (there are two sets side-by-side), I now know which ones make the buzz. As for the speaker, I wrote a note to say specifically what to turn on before each Mass and to turn it off after each Mass. Until that becomes normal for folks, I at least know how to turn it off myself. Just have to find someone with the right keyā€¦ and yes, I have considered asking if I might have a copy of that key, specifically for the purpose of being able to silence the buzzing roar of the speaker when needed. We shall see what happens.

For now, though, we have a wonderful start and a functional real of possibility and plans. And I am grateful for that.

Thank you, God. Amen.

Post-a-day 2023

An abundance of bishops

This morning, the auxiliary bishop led Mass in a special celebration of and for police and all law enforcement who wear blue (like border protection, etc.) at the Blue Mass. It was an unexpected surprise for me, the bishop, not the Blue Mass. It was all really cool.

Tonight, I attended a donor event (not as a financial donor, but a time donor, an employee), and guess who also was there. The auxiliary bishop! A fun and entirely unexpected surprise, indeed.

When I sent the second round of photos to my mom and man, to let them notice his presence at both events in my day today, my mom replied with photos of her own from dinner, though having not yet figured out that the bishop had been in the photos Iā€™d sent. In her photos, I am reminded that she was at a celebration for a family member, and I see that she, too, was at a dinner attended by another local bishopā€¦ but she had dinner at the same table as that bishop. Swanky and fun and the same time.

So, in a way, today, we had an abundance of bishops in our immediate lives. How fun!

Thank you, God, for the love and offerings of your devoted servants and family who so clearly love your children and devote themselves to sharing your love and your word in all that they do and in all that they are and in all that they represent and for which they stand. Thank you for the priesthood and those who choose it so lovingly and freely. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2023

P.S. Have you seen Mark Wahlberg in Father Stu, yet?? If not, definitely go watch it! šŸ™‚

So much stress

I had several errands to run today, and several strategic purchase to make during the tax-free weekend for clothing and backpacks. And the first of my errands kind of very much pissed me off – I was extremely frustrated. It was a simple matter of $14.06. I had been told by the store workers that they did returns without one week, and then exchanges or store credit only after that. However, they at this store seem utterly unaware of the fact that ā€œreturnā€ includes returning the money to the purchaser, not merely giving store credit. I had even confirmed when purchasing the thing that it would be, ā€œfor a full refund.ā€ But ā€œrefundā€ must mean to them ā€œstore creditā€.

So, that was extremely annoying for me. And it was worsened by the fact that Iā€™m at a financial place where $14 really does matter. But, when I looked at the receipt after the frustrating discovery that I was given store credit, and I saw that the sales tax I had paid was not refunded to me, the tables turned gently in my favor. The computer system was programmed to function fully without tax for the weekend, and they had no way to override it. So, they refunded another item on my original receipt to compensate. It was more than double the tax I had paid, but the store manager had approved it, as there was no way to reverse the initial return transaction, anyway, plus no way to add the sales tax. So, instead of just the dollar seven of tax I had paid, they refunded me another $2.25ā€¦ refund being as store credit, of course; gotta use their lingo hereā€¦

Anyway, that was really hard for me on multiple levels, but I am grateful it turned out a little more positively than it had seemed like it would end. And the day turned out to be a hassle but worth the errands, so I am glad I went and handled it all today.

And then, I missed Mass, so ended up attending a 7pm Spanish Mass, and it was actually quite good. It was a church that usually is sparsely filled with folks for any English Mass Iā€™ve ever attended, but was full tonight for the Spanish Mass. I stood out, to be sure, but I was able easily to participate and understand everything. And the homily was actually nice and got me thinking in a good way. Plus, the music was very Mexican yet also fun. I even went after Mass to ask for the names of two of the songs from the head music guy. He asked what everyone else was clearly thinking, and learned that Spanish was not my native language and, no, I didnā€™t learn it in school. But he commended some for it and didnā€™t hide his surprise at my speaking so easily with him in Spanish. It was silly, but fun, and it was great to have God bring together such different people so easily. I was very grateful tonight that my religion allows for participation in worship across cultures and languages so well.

Thank you, God, for the help today and for the blessings of your love today. Stay noticeably with me, please. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2023

Saturday night

We went to Mass this evening, and I kind of really like doing that. There is something about ā€˜making sure we go to Massā€™ on Sunday that usually makes Sundays just not feel like a day of rest. I certainly want to go to Mass. But there is something about going Saturday evening that makes so much more seem possible in a weekend. Itā€™s easy to have dinner after a 5pm on Saturday, because we can stay up late Saturday night. But dinner after a 5pm on Sunday must be quick and orderly, and we have to ā€˜get to itā€™ to get everything ready for bed and for an early start Monday morning. If we do Sunday morning Mass, we canā€™t stay up late Saturday night, removing much of the fun of having a Saturday night without a day of work after it, but with a day of rest to follow. Granted, we arenā€™t going out and partying hard or anything. Oftentimes, we are just doing things at home after dinner, or wanting to watch a movie or something, just hanging out together, even. But weā€™d have to cut it all short, especially in the summer, to go get ready for bed, if we had Mass the next morning. Plus, there is a certain stress around making sure alarms are set for everyone to get up and out the door in time for Church the next morning, allied with getting as much sleep as possible yet practicable. We can never seem to get to bed truly early enough on a Saturday night – we have too much energy for that on Saturdays – not to be rushing the next morning to get to Mass. So, Sunday morning Mass always has a certain stress tied to it.

Whatā€™s more, I get stressed having to keep an eye on the time all day to make sure we donā€™t miss the only chance we have for something. By going to Mass Saturday, the idea of having the options of Sunday morning and evening, just in case something changes or comes up, gives me great easeā€¦

Coming home from Mass on Sunday requires down time for me. Often, I want to go do something, to celebrate the joys we just got to experience in Mass. But that doesnā€™t work out so easily on a Sunday evening, for reasons already mentioned, or on a Sunday after morning Mass, because itā€™s time to start getting ready for lunch and anything else that needs to get done that day before bedtime routines need to start.

This may all sound ridiculous, but it is very real for me. I had forgotten the ease that came with Saturday vigil. Experiencing it tonight brought forth a release of stress that I hadnā€™t fully realized Iā€™d been carrying about Sunday Mass. But, boy, can I feel the lifting of that weight tonight as I go to bedā€¦

I can now look forward to a Sunday in which I donā€™t have to get dressed up or go be around and with a lot of people. I can truly have a day of rest and contemplation in my own home. The hubbub and buzz of going to Church is much more suiting for Saturday and its many activities and events and general happenings around town. The restful start – without the alarm and rushing to get ready and out the door – with no requirements but to be faithful and to be here, makes Sunday a true day of rest, and, thereby, prayer and contemplation, as well as an offering to God. Wow.

Thank you, God, for this insight into my relationship with you and with the world around me. Thank you for this love. Amen.

Post-a-day 2023

Prayers for Janeā€™s Healing

Whatever your method, whatever your beliefs, however you can, I ask for your prayers, your intentions, your positive energy, your love, your light to guide healing and release to our dearest friend Jane. Her body needs some help right now especially, and I ask for your support, wherever you are, whenever you are. However you call the cosmic energy that connects us all, please, ask it if it would grant Jane those healing atoms and neurons and electrons and cells, please. Your support will be forever appreciated.

God, please, grant this healing of Janeā€™s physical body and the release of strain that she has been holding as of late. Allow her to offer her cross up to you, that you might lift the load and heal her in her time of such dependent need. Help her to be her best self, and to be it here with us all, on Earth, and for many years to come. In your name, we pray. Amen.

St. Jude and Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, please, and pray for Janeā€™s healing. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Contribution

In a class tonight for those wishing to become Catholic, a class that was only in its second of about 30 sessions, my honey man made a contribution.

Thereā€™s this main book about Catholicism – it has just about everything about Catholicism and the reasons behind the everything – called The Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is very, very big and heavy, with dense text all throughout. Itā€™s extremely informative and interesting to read at all points of it. But it is also a lot and heavy on the brain, especially when itā€™s all new information and topics to the one reading it.

This is the book recommended for new people to Catholicism to read as their first steps to becoming Catholic.

Intense, right?

Anyway, so, theyā€™re talking about this at the meeting tonight. People are asking questions about all sorts of things at the request of the leaders. The leaders also asked for any general comments or thoughts to be shared, too. My man shares that a less overwhelming but still extremely helpful resource is the YouCat, which is the youth Catechism. It may sounds silly, he said, but it is organized in a very helpful way, where it builds upon itself, and it is easy to read – much easier than the regular Catechism. He shared how it had already been helping him to understand all sorts of things about the Catholic Church and Faith. Several people seemed interested, and the leaders agreed with him. The old guy next to him apparently leaned over and let him know, ā€˜Imma do that,ā€™ in response to the recommendation.

Great contribution, right? Right!

When he told me about it tonight, I was ecstatic for him. ā€˜Good job, Honey! Go, you!ā€™ I told him enthusiastically and excited that he felt so strongly about the YouCat that he would speak up and share about it. And then I had the realization of how that could lookā€¦

(Mind you, Iā€™m fully unconcerned with how it actually looked to all the people in the class. I just found this particular possible perspective to be a funny one.)

ā€˜Way-to-make a contribution to class while also saying ā€˜Iā€™m better than all of you,ā€™ā€™ I said to him. We both cracked up at how silly an idea it was, likely with both of us recalling some student or other in our own classes back in school days who were the overly-helpful know-it-alls, even on day one. And he got to be that overly-helpful know-it-all!! šŸ˜›

So, that was cute, and Iā€™m grateful for it.

Thank you, God, for these classes, for this man, and for our love for you. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Let it go

Today, we started off with the Saturday morning workout. It was a partner workout. People didnā€™t follow the instructions given. It caused problems for those following the instructions. Obviously, we were the ones following the instructions. We finished on time, but we had a lot of frustration. It was so much so that we had to sit together for almost ten minutes to talk through everything after the workout and follow-up stretching had ended. It was a very positive outcome, but a very stress-filled class for he both of us. But we were intentional with the whole thing, and so we are growing well from it, I do believe.

Afterward – and after our max effort pull-upā€™s post-workout – we headed to confession and reconciliation. There is nothing quite so freeing as reconciliation, and fulfillingā€¦

Then we did several things weā€™d been wanting to do, but hadnā€™t had time or space or memory to do so on previous weekends, simply because we passed by them on our way home from Churchā€¦ farmersā€™ market and test driving a Jeep Gladiator and a truck. And the test drives were awesome. We had a blast, the both of us. And yes, he and I each got inside the closed truck bed of the Jeep, just to see how spacious it was. You could fit multiple people back there lying down, if neededā€¦ just in case that is ever a relevant fact in your lifeā€¦

We didnā€™t accomplish a lot of what weā€™d intended for today, but we got some done, for sure, and we accomplished other things we had wanted for a while. So, I think this was a really great Saturday for us both, even if it felt a bit odd for not accomplishing the original list of tasks and goals for today.

The bonus is that tomorrow only has Church on the list, so we can finish todayā€™s stuff then! Woohoo!

Thank you, God, for such a bizarre yet love-filled day. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022