Thesis: Mission Accomplished...

I can hardly believe it: the thesis is done. After many, many, MANY revisions, my director and reader both signed off on the project this afternoon. An historical and canonical investigation into the Sunday Mass obligation. Chapter four contains a survey of the question: "can a Catholic fulfill his Sunday Mass obligation at a chapel of the SSPX?" I lay out both arguments (pro and con) and then make an argument of my own as to why one cannot. It's amazing all that is involved in dealing with this question: canon 1248 concerning the Sunday obligation, canon 209 concerning the obligation to maintain communion with the Church, canon 11 concerning canonical sanctions only affecting those in full communion, canon 844 concerning communicatio in sacris, canon 28 of the Eastern Code concerning the definition of "Catholic rite," etc. etc. It was an interesting (albeit a long) exercise.

The Thesis is Approved:

Assignment...

OK, I alluded to it in the last post. It's official. I received my letter of appointment from the Archbishop last week and it was announced at the parishes this weekend.

As you know, I'm coming to the end of what has been a very interesting three years. It's been a great time studying canon law, living in Washington, DC (yes, I said it. I sure wouldn't want to live the rest of my life in this crazy town, but it's a fun place sometimes...), and being a student. I've made a lot of great friends up here: classmates, guys who live in the house here, and my professors. I'm going to miss our dinner conversations here at the house. With guys studying everything from canon law to moral theology to ancient languages to philosophy, the conversations can range from the idiotic to the sublime. While I could have done with a little less paper writing and other school work, I've often thought that when I make it to 70, I'm going to look back on these three years and remember them as a great time. While I'm looking forward to the future, I'm also leaving some great memories behind here.

Allright, no more suspense. I've been assigned as pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Mt. Washington, KY, and All Saints in Taylorsville, KY. The effective date is June 22. I am really pleased with the assignment. Both parishes have wonderful reputations; faithful people who are dedicated to the Church. I've already received several nice e-mails from parishioners welcoming me. I can't wait to get home and begin the assignment. The parishes are about twenty or so miles south of Louisville. I'll have additional responsibilities at the tribunal (putting my JCL degree to work), as well as continuing to celebrate the Extraordinary Form Mass in Louisville. No pastor has only one job nowadays - and my plate will be plenty full - but after three years as a student I'm ready to get back into the life of being a parish priest. If I've learned anything these past three years (other than a healthy dose of canon law), it's that my heart lies in a parish.

The Parish Website is HERE.

All Saints Parish, Taylorsville:


St. Francis Xavier Parish, Mt. Washington:

Next Month...

A lot of things are going to be taking place in my life in the next month or so: I'm just about ready to submit a thesis to my reader, I'm finishing the last classes of my (illustrious) canon law schooling, taking (and hopefully passing) my comprehensive exams, returning home in time to celebrate my tenth anniversary with a solemn high Mass at my home parish, vesting Deacon Matthew Hardesty at his priesthood ordination and preaching his Mass of thanksgiving, and beginning a new assignment (official announcement coming soon...).

The choir at the home parish has been very gracious in accommodating my demanding requests of music for the anniversary Mass. Here's a sampling of the pieces they have agreed to sing for the Mass:

For the offertory


Communion



The Solemn "Te Deum" will be chanted at the end of Mass


The Recessional

List This Under Something I'll Do One of These Days: the Chartres Pilgrimage...

One of these days I'm going to make this pilgrimage. A walk of about 75 miles over three days from Notre Dame in Paris to the Cathedral in Chartres. Along the way Masses are offered (in the "Extraordinary Form") and confessions are heard at various stations. The pilgrimage culminates with a Solemn Mass celebrated at Chartres. First made in the 12th century, interrupted from time to time, but more or less an annual event for 800 years. Check out the website (in English) HERE. Check out some pictures below:

Video of Pope Benedict's Ordination to the Priesthood...

Some video of the future Pope Benedict's ordination to the priesthood in 1951 in Freising. Amongst those also ordained that day was his brother, Georg Ratzinger. Too bad there is no audio.

Cherry Blossoms at Sunrise...

A group of us made the trek downtown this morning to catch sunrise over the tidal basin and the famous cherry trees, which were predicted to be at their peak today. It was a beautiful (if albeit early) start to the day. I snapped a few pictures with the cell phone:

Hello to the Singletons...

Some good friends of mine (Tony and Jacque) are up visiting for a few days with their "rug rats." They came up on the train yesterday (See pic below) and are staying in the guest room here at the house while they tour around our nation's capitol (sans me, I'm too busy writing). Check out their blog HERE for updates on their trip. It's kind of got me a bit nostalgic: my parents brought my sister and I up to DC via Amtrak when we were about their age. Apparently their boys were glued to the window the whole trip:

New Blog...

Adding a new blog to the blog list at the lower right-hand corner of this page:

http://sacramentary.blogspot.com/

A Beautiful Morning in DC...

70 degrees and sunny. Taking the workstation out-of-doors to the patio for my day of writing...

Spring Break Fishing Report...

Last week was Spring Break here at the university. I had the opportunity to go home for a few days (and work on writing papers there...). I also had the chance to squeeze in a couple days fishing. Here's some shots of an enjoyable couple days relaxing before we start the final push to the end here in my canonical studies:



A slice of heaven: the crackling of a fire after a long day fishing, sitting at the river's edge:

New Jazz CD...

I usually don't care for Jazz that is anything than the classic ballads of Bill Evans, John Coltrane, the classic Miles Davis, and the like. Very few modern jazz musicians interest me, and its rare to find one that has that classic sound. I must admit, though, that I have recently been enjoying the group "E.S.T." - the "Esbjorn Svensson Trio" (I actually bought the cd, and it's been a while since I bought a cd). Check them out:



(Thanks to Ben J., who originally posted this video on Facebook, from whence I first heard of this group. Sadly, the pianist died in a scuba diving accident back in 2008.)

Halfway...

We're halfway through the final semester. Other than meaning that comps are only two or so months away, it also means that time is coming due for my thesis to be done. I just turned in my first draft of the third and final chapter. A couple revisions, and then comes the final polishing before it's done. Spring break is next week, and none too soon. I am looking forward to getting back home for a few days. Hope to do a little fishing while I'm home, among other things. Here's something to whet the appetite:

Autumn Fishing from Steve Omischl on Vimeo.

fly fishing trout HD / l'hiver en 2nd sur le No Kill du Salat from COX on Vimeo.

St. Valentine...

Celebrated Mass this morning. It was a ferial day with a commemoration of St. Valentine, Martyr (in the Ordinary Form today is the feast of St.s Cyril and Methodius):

CUA Southside...

The southside of the campus has always been a bit "ghetto," all things being equal. It has been remarkably so this year since the abandonment of Spellman and Spalding Halls (former residence halls for undergrads), just around the corner from where I live. Since last semester the buildings have been sitting vacant, and the place has gotten decidedly more Beirut-like: kind of like a scene from some post-apocalyptic movie. I hate to say it, but I almost miss the smelly little undergrads. Things used to be so lively in our neighborhood here. Well, walking to Mass at the Shrine this morning I took a glance up to see that the wrecking ball has finally begun its work on Spellman. I imagine that it won't be too long before it's gone.

Spellman Hall:


I guess that having been here for three years qualifies me to get nostalgic about the place. They used to call this neighborhood "The Little Vatican" because of all the religious houses nearby campus that housed the many priests and sisters who did their studies at the university. You can still see an array of religious habits walking around, but it's nothing like it was back in the day. I came across some historic photos from years gone by and thought I'd post them here. As you can see, parts of campus are really quite nice:

A religious procession across campus:


The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception:


Caldwell Hall, Home of the School of Canon Law:


The Statue of the "Sedes Sapientiae" Just Outside Caldwell Hall:


McMahon Hall:


Looking Past McMahon Hall to the Shrine:


The Library:


CUA Football, 1936 Orange Bowl Champs (Believe it or not...):


Some of Our Distinguished Faculty Members:

Missa in tempore belli...

Mass in the time of war...



Civil War:


World War I:


World War II:




Modern Day: