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Showing posts from September, 2020

First Sunday of Advent (A)

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The Unknown Day and Hour   Lectionary: 1 Reading 1 -  Isaiah 2:1-5 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 122: 1-9 Reading 2 -  Romans 13:11-14 Alleluia -  Cf. Psalm 85:8 Gospel -  Matthew 24:37-44 '... Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.' Introduction  As we gather on this First Sunday of Advent , we also mark the beginning of the Church’s new liturgical calendar and a four-week preparation period leading up to Christmas. The word Advent comes from either of two Latin words, which simply mean “to come” (Ad-venire) or “to arrive” (Ad-ventus), and as early as the fourth (4th) century, Christians have had this special time of preparation towards Christmas. Of course, Advent is not merely a countdown to Christmas; Even as we begin the material preparations for the social celebration of Christmas, the liturgical celebrations of these weeks invite us to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus. But what does the co...
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Dominican Novitiate

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  Reception : After being "received" into the Lay Fraternities as a "novice," you are given a small, all white (with no embellishments), scapular in place of the blessing and giving of the habit of the order.   This ritual "clothing" is to be worn at all times unless replaced by other approved "signs" that have been specially blessed.  A medal of St. Dominic or of St. Dominic with the Blessed Virgin is the preferred substitute.  In addition, the novice is presented with The Rule by which they are to begin living (see obligations below). Congratulations ... you're a novice.  Please pay your (prorated) dues.  Be sure to cross your T's and dot your I's while minding all P's and Q's because this is a probationary year.  You are not yet fully incorporated into the Order, which is achieved through profession (promise), so there are still things you can't do ... such as participate in the election of fraternity officers/council m...
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Deacon Aspirant

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  Back to School ... The first year in formation is primarily focused on the spiritual aspect of the diaconate; although there are some academic classes that provide brief introductions to the Old Testament (Fall Semester) and the New Testament (Spring Semester) to aid in interpretation and exegesis.  Classes were twice a week on Monday and Wednesday evenings; and we were initially expected schlep down to the Pastoral Center in Braintree until COVID threw the whole program into chaos and everything went 100% remote for this year.  This was a HUGE blessing since the wives were also required to attend ... only now by Zoom instead of trying to figure out how to manage all this with only one car from two different work locations.   It took a bit to ramp up though and many of the instructors in the other classes were a tad technically challenged ... Having some prior experience with asynchronous learning for my own Masters degree from the University of Phoenix, I have to ...
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