I am bound and determined to update you on my life before this next semester at the seminary begins.  Class and formation begins this next week so this is my chance.  I am not sure what exactly happens to time in my life – but I never have enough of it!  Suffice it to say that I SURVIVED my first semester in the seminary.  Not only survivied, but I feel God has really worked in my life and that I am on the right path!  Plus - they are letting me back in for another semester so I’m off to good start. 

I had a great break, but was glad to get back to my little room here and seminary life.  Literally a sigh of relief came out of my mouth as I drove in the gates and saw the statue of Mary.  After finals last semester I headed to East Texas for Christmas and spent most of my time at St. Theresa’s helping out and visiting with friends.  The day after Christmas I headed to New Braunfels for an overnight visit with my grandmother (my mom’s mom) and I got to visit my cousin and her newly adopted son!  My grandmother and I got a chance to visit the cemetery where my mother and grandfather are buried, and put out poinsettias on the graves… a bit late but still officially in the Christmas season.  I always enjoy my time visiting there – full of laughs and stories about family.  I am amazed that I learn something new about our crazy family every time I visit.  I then drove to Ruidoso to visit my father, brother and his girls.  We took a trip to Las Cruces one day to see Savannah, my brother’s oldest daughter who is a SOPHMORE in college there.   She is all set up and an apartment – amazing – I definitely remember when she was a scared little girl coming to camp.  We also took a day trip to Alamogordo so I could meet my dad’s “lady friend” who I have heard so much about.  They met each other square dancing and she is a delightful women.  I knew in talking to my father that he really was enjoying the companionship, so I am happy for him.  Coincidentally, she works at the School for the Blind where Cheyenne goes to summer camp so they know each other from there.  Small world!   Speaking of my young nieces – I had the privilege of beginning the New Year with both Cheyenne and Mariah!  My father had a square dance to go to, and my brother had plans – so it was Uncle Hank and the girls! Certainly a bit different than my New Years eves of past – we had Happy Meals from McDonalds, baked some chocolate chip cookies – and did art projects all night.  I have the 35 or so drawings for proof!   It was a great way to begin 2006!   I headed back to Houston via El Paso to pick up some seminarian friends – and spent a day there touring their town.  We stopped over in San Antonio for an evening on the Riverwalk and just our luck they had drained the river for yearly maintenance.  We had all been there during our evacuation stint for Rita so it wasn’t a big deal – but really!! 

I spent last week on retreat – a silent retreat – yes silent!  5 days of being what they called “hidden with the Lord.”   It actually was fruitful in several ways but not always easy.  There was actually one day in there where I was just pretty unhappy with the whole thing.  I have spent time alone before – but never alone with 50 other seminarians.  But as in many things, our faith especially, persistence is necessary!   We stayed at the Christian Renewal Center run by the Oblates outside of Houston – I had huge flashbacks of The Pines!   Lots of similarities, and I just couldn’t help but smile.  Of course I couldn’t tell anyone why I was smiling…

That leads us right here to today!  There – it’s done – you are updated!  Thank you all for your kind thoughts and cards over the holiday season.  I hope yours was a blessed as mine.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers – and be assured that you are all in mine.                                  Peace - Hank

     Greetings from St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas!  I hope this update finds you doing well.  It seems hard to beleive my last update was 2 months ago!  Thanksgiving just past us, and I have so much to be thankful for.  As I go through my “list” of thanks to God – I want you to know how much I appreciate all of your support and prayers.  I know your prayers have had a great affect on me here at St. Mary's.    

     Seminary life is great!  Life  has been an adjustment, but I have fairly easily fallen into the routine of life here at St. Mary’s.  I really think it has a lot to do with my 15 years of “training” in following schedules at camp!  Seriously though– following a daily schedule seems to throw lots of older guys off.  I feel so blessed to have had camp experience where following a daily schedule was just part of everyday life.  Of course, I made those schedules and that sure isn’t the case here!  God’s plan is always working – I was just in training for a bit longer that some!

    St. Mary’s is a beautiful place – the grounds and facilities have the “feel” of a holy place if that makes sense.  You can bet that I have my modest accommodations looking as good as possible.  I have been able to bring enough of my personal pictures, books, and of course statues to make it feel like home!  They call our rooms “cells” – but it’s my “cell” none the less!

     We have about 70 guys here this semester, which a bit higher number than in recent years.  2 guys have already "dropped out."  As you can imagine there are all kinds of personalities – and nationalities represented.  I wrote in an earlier post about the crazy floor I live on....these guys are recent arrivals to the United States from seminaries in other countries and are learning English in intensive classes at the University of St. Thomas.  Needless to say the hall is full of all kinds of words… Spanish, Korean, Philippino, Ebou (from Kenya) and even occasionally English.  It is a United Nations for sure!   It does make life interesting!  I also spend time with the guys in 1^st Year Theology who live in another building.  We Pre-theologians have a couple of classes with them.. plus they have all come from 4 years in another seminary so they have some experience in how this all works!  I continue to be the one “wiser in years” among most of my fellow seminarians – but there are 2 other guys actually older than me! 

      We are now well into the semester – and you would think I would have the hang of classes – but I’m still taking it day by day.  To give you an example of the “learning curve” – I was as writing one of my first papers and was complaining to another seminarian about what a pain in the behind it was to figure out footnotes – measuring at the bottom etc.  He looked at me like I was from outer space – saying maybe I might try the “insert footnote” button on my laptop!  This certainly helped!  As I thought about it – I realized the last time I wrote papers in college it was on a TYPEWRITER – because we didn’t have personal computers back then!  That story sort of explains my education experience so far – but I’m getting through it don’t you worry!

      Now, when it comes to the formation life here – I actually have a handle on that.  Thanks to my work in church over the past 20 years, I do have a clue what’s going on.  We meet weekly for Formation – plus you meet with a Spiritual Director and your External Formater every 2 weeks.  I was asked to coordinate the Art & Environment for the chapel and I’m heading up a committee renovating an old classroom into a prayer chapel.  It’s nice to think that I am still able to use the gifts my mother had and passed onto me.  I think of her often when I’m trying to arrange flowers for the chapel and know she’s smiling.  Needless to say – I stay busy!

      I remember most of last year looking forward to this year – and saying how nice it would be to only have to “pray and study.”  Well let me tell you it’s certainly not easier – and there is never enough to time to finish “praying and studying” but it’s been such a blessing so far! 

      I pray you and your families had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving season!  Now on to Advent!  Thank you again for your support and prayers.  Please know that I consider our friendships a true blessing to me and you will all continue to be in my prayers.  

                                                            Peace - Hank

Hello my friends...

Writing you this evening from my cozy room at St. Mary's in good ole Houston Texas.  I feel very blessed to be here.  Thanks to our friend Rita - the seminary evacuated last Thursday with half the seminary heading to Byran and half heading to San Antonio.  We were indeed stuck with the other 2 million evacuees and drove 20 hours to get to San Antonio.  At one point we traveled 3 miles in 8 hours pretty much in gridlock.  Talk about a great study in human behavior!  Anyway - we were graciously hosted by Assumption Seminary until this morning when we headed back.. mind you taking only 3 hours to get here. 

I've been here at St. Mary's for over a month now - and I think that this evacuation plan was the first time I really felt not in control of my own life.  Things here are very scheduled - but I have been used to following schedules at camp.  Of course I usually made the schedules - but I did follow them.  It was odd not to be able to decide for myself where I wanted to go for this evacuation.  Let me tell you - there were no options.  Everyone left together and stayed together.  You may know that I grew up in San Antonio - so I got to show my fellow seminarians around a bit.  We had free time - but had to stay together.. that whole "all for one" thing!  We did get a chance to relax which was nice.   The other thing that I learned is how much I consider St. Mary's my home for now.  I had a huge sigh of relief pulling through those gates this afternoon.

Another little benefit of the evacuation was not having class - and we still have one more day off.. starting back Wednesday.  I had every intention of catching up on all classwork and reading while away - but now I have 1 day left to do that.  We'll see...  after all it is our last free day!  I did take my first exam in Ancient Philosophy last week before we left - not sure excatly how I did but I do know I didn't fail it.  It was just nice to have the first one under my belt. 

All this "good luck" for us meant that Houston was spared the brunt of this hurricane - but we all need to pray for our friends that weren't so lucky.  I know we have some camp people from the Lake Charles area - and so many others that are now without homes and jobs.   I'm trying to figure out we can do here to help those in need besides of course prayer.  Our gymansium has already been converted to a clearing house for St. Vincent de Paul - and we've been going through community clothing donations. I have amazed at how generous the people from Houston have been.  So much God has planned for us to learn in situations like this.  Puts things in perspective for me! 

Take care and keep those in need in our prayers - bless your rest!   Peace -Hank

Hello Friends....

One full week of graduate classes down - and I have the 17 books to prove it!  From what I can remember of my undergraduate classes, we never had that many books for just 5 classes!  After a week of lectures and one quiz, I now know that I can at least understand what is being presented in these classes - so that worry is gone.  Now the current stress has to do with all kinds of papers for these classes.  I have reflection papers, topical papers, discussion papers, term papers - the list goes on. To be honest I haven't written ANY papers since my sophomore year of college in 1980 - so I feel a learning curve coming on. 

I've met some great guys here... and there's a small world story of course.  I had a roommate for a while when I lived in Midland - back in the mid 80's.  He was a hilarious guy I met in the singles group at church. (don't' laugh - we were stuck in West Texas - where else was I supposed to meet people)  anyway - he got transferred to El Paso with his job, left that job and entered the seminary. I keep up correspondence with him through his ordination but lost track after that.   On the first night we were introducing ourselves and there were 3 guys from El Paso here.  Knowing it was a long shot, I went and asked them if they knew a priest name Rick Zamarano.  Of course, wouldn't you know it... my roommate Rick was their Vocations Director.  CRAZY small world!  Later that night we went for drinks... called Rick... and had a great laugh!  God is good...

I have eased into life here at St. Mary's fairly easily.  I live on an unusual hall - with my fellow Pre-theology brothers(who are interesting in their own right - and by interesting I do mean a bit odd) as well as the "language" students.  These guys are from various Latin America countries and different Asian countries - don't even ask me to explain.  But it makes for pretty hilarious conversation in the hall.   I was elected a representative for our House Council - so I have the pleasure of speaking on behalf of these guys. 

Believe it or not - the hardest thing to get used to here is not having any responsibility.  It's a very hierarchical world here- imagine that..definitely mimicking the church - 1st year Theology have certain jobs, 2nd year certain jobs, some guys serve, some guys lector, some guys lead morning and evening prayer,...etc.  you get the idea - you will notice that I did not include Pre-theology.  That's because we don't get any extra jobs except cleaning the tables in the refectory.  I'm guessing they are giving us a chance to adjust.  I'm trying just relax and let that happen.   I was asked to join the Scola which is seminary choir.  We have a great lady that coordinates the music here.. had practice this week and it was a blast.  The chapel here is made for singing!    That will have to suffice for my extra-curricular activity.

Now for a chuckle... yesterday, today, and tomorrow we have all had to attend a workshop on "Conscious Celibacy"...  what a trip!  Honestly I think tomorrow we may finally begin to deal with the topic - so far we've talked about every other possible psycho-therapy problem.  Actually it's not all that bad - but the guy doing it has given this the past several years so all the older guys have his routine down!  It's not dull here that's for sure. 

I best close ... but can't do that without asking everyone for what I know you are already doing... prayers for our friends in New Orleans.  You all know how near and dear this place is to me... I have a beautiful print of St. Louis Cathedral on my wall here in my room and I have such great memories of all my trips there.  It is unimaginable what has happened to that city.  That aside... more concerning is what the people of that city have been through.  Please let's keep them in our thoughts as they finally begin to emerge from this horrific situation. 

I also want to thank you all for your prayers.. I know they have helped make my "transition" here into seminary life a smooth ride so far.  Keep them coming!  Take care and bless your rest...                  Peace my friends - Hank

It has been a long time since I've been a small fish in a big pond.  It is a humbling experience - but one in which so much can be learned.  That is where I am right now.  We have 20 new seminarians here at St. Mary's, some of them starting their Theological studies and some of us in the Pre-theology program.  We have all been here since Saturday night - and I have been in "extravert" mode trying to meet everyone and remember names and dioceses...how exhausting. Those of us newbies are heading off tomorrow for a day of recollection while the returning seminarians arrive  (50 of them) so we'll all be together for dinner tomorrow.  What sense of understanding I had of the community so far will change drastically then.  I am looking forward to seeing what the full house will feel and look like. 

We have been occupied the past 2 days with community prayer and orientation seminars.  Very interesting the topics we discussed...  one was on "openness" to what lies ahead and "letting go" of where you've been.  That certainly rang a bell for me.  Another one was on "silence" and the importance of it in our lives.  I couldn't help but smile since I have discussed that very topic with several people this past summer at camp.  The last thing we talked about this evening was the possiblity of journaling our joys/blessings and sorrows...  all I could think of was highs and lows.  In some ways I feel a few steps ahead here thanks to my camp experience. 

On a more practical note - I got my schedule!  Here's a look at it:             MWF 9:00 - 10:00     Ancient Philosphy      

                MWF 11:00 -12:00     Teaching of the Church   

                MW  2:00 - 3:30       Philosophy of the Human Person

                 MWF  4:00 - 5:00    Ecclesiastical Latin

                 T - TH   9:00 - 10:30 Into to Theological Studies

                 T           2:30 - 4:30  Intro to Liturgy  

I haven't been at this for a while - but it sounds like a busy schedule to me!!  But I'm excited to get started.  Our first day of class is next week - I'll get my books tomorrow hopefully and then I'll have a better idea of what's coming my way!                  

I have some "silent time" tomorrow while on retreat so I'll have you all on my prayer list.  Take care and bless your rest ..          Peace - Hank