Sunday, December 25, 2005
4th letter of December 2005
4) Christmas, December 25, 2005
Monday, December 19, 2005.
Together with Valery, I was going to Saint Therese Church Chinatown to volunteer putting Christmas decoration at the church. At 3 p.m. Father Michael took us home at Hyde Park. In the evening I was preparing the power point of the community’s kaleidoscope for the December 31st.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005.
In the morning till afternoon, we (Ignas, Dharmawan, Valery and I) went to Saint Therese to help decorating the church.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005.
We as community went to a retreat house at Frankfort, Illinois, Portiuncula Retreat Center with the special theme of this year is HOPE, preached by Father Rocco. We ended the retreat with the afternoon Mass and had supper at Chinese Buffet nearby Chinatown.
Thursday, December 22, 2005.
This morning I borrowed In Focus, slide projector at CTU’s library and Ignas helped me give a ride. I tried this projector and with the help of Dharmawan it worked out. It will be helpful for the community event at the end of this year to review our community’s events during 2005. I put together my notes through my journal into power point including some pictures representing various moments of our theology community at Hyde Park. It takes time to prepare it. In the afternoon, joining at our holy hour, a young college man, Collin, together with Father Victor Moselle, sx. In the supper, we had long chatting about the vocation of priesthood.
Friday, December 23, 2005.
In the morning Mass there was Father Adolph who passed by to join us. I went to Union Station at downtown to take Metra train to reach Lake Cook Road Station. I visited an Indonesian family, Steve-Monci who live at Buffalo Grove, IL. They picked me up at the station at 11.30 p.m. and we directly went to have lunch at a Japanese Buffet Restaurant at Todai Restaurant located at Woodfield Mall, the largest mall in Chicago. I have been going to this mall last summer with two Alexian Brothers, Ronald and Victor. It’s a good place to have lunch with Japanese menu such as sushi and other Chinese food. It is much better than the Chinese Buffet. We went to shopping at a Swedish store called IKEI. In the evening we went to Steve-Monci’s house and I stayed one night there. The last time I went to visit them at summer, 6 months ago. I saw their three kids, Kalista, Thalia, and Alen are growing. They are 6th, 4th and 1st graders. I showed them my video tape of my presiding class, the Mass in Indonesian and English. At midnight I was sleeping at Thalia’s room.
Saturday, December 24, 2005.
I have slept very well last night and through computer Cik Monci showed me some pictures of the family reunion last summer at Walt Disney, Florida. At noon, the family treated me once again to have lunch at a restaurant, Bob Chinn’s Crab House Restaurant. They took me home at Hdye Park while the day was raining. After I arrived home, I could take a rest for a while and in the evening Ignas took us (Valery and I) to Saint Therese Church Chinatown to have Christmas Vigil Mass at 8 p.m. The children of the CCD program presented a Christmas tablo. It’s the first time I celebrated the Christmas night at this church and many people coming. We went back home at 10 p.m.
Sunday Christmas, December 25, 2005.
In the morning Valery and I went to Saint Therese to attend the Mass at 9.30. Only Father Michael and I served the Mass and not that many people came to this Mass. I joined the Indonesian Mass at Saint Therese School presided by Father Kuntoro Adi, sj from Milwaukee. There were about 40 people coming to this Indonesian Christmas Mass while in the church, there was Mandarin Mass at 11 a.m. attended by 79 people. I did meditation by myself at Saint Therese church and at 4 p.m. together with Deacon Paul, svd, I went back home at Hyde Park.
In the supper we have special menu cooked by Alejandro and Pascal Atumisi, a Mexican food, ‘tamales.’ It continued with community gathering, singing Christmas songs and exchanging gifts. We’re all present at this Christmas night plus Father Willy and Adolph and lasted until 11 p.m.
MERRY CHRISTMAS 25 DECEMBER 2005
AND
HAPPY NEW YEAR 01 JANUARY 2006
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Sunday, December 18, 2005
3rd letter of December 2005
3) 4th Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2005
Monday, December 12, 2005.
Today I was doing the power point of kaleidoscope of my community. In the evening, a professor of Old Testament from CTU, Sister Diane Bergant came to visit our community and joined our supper cooked by Father Rocco. At night I was watching a DVD entitled the Hiding Place, about Nazi.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005.
In the morning I went to CTU to return the DVD’s I borrowed then I borrowed some 24 books of religious life as anticipation of my J-Term course on Religious Life in Context in January 2006 as well as my personal reflection toward the perpetual vows in the Xaverians. In the afternoon I was cooking, a pork soup (sayur asin baikut daing babi). In the evening at our house there was a formators meeting of some religious communities. At night I was reading some books of religious life. At night Father Pascal just returned from East Coast.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005.
In the morning Father Rocco flew to Boston and returned on Friday night. I was reading books of religious life. In the afternoon I was cooking pizza and lasagna, just warming them up in the oven. There was one guest coming to join our evening prayer and supper, namely, a sister from California, classmate of Valery at CTU. At night again I was reading a book of religious life.
Thursday, December 15, 2005.
In the morning after breakfast I was reading a book of religious life. In the afternoon I was cooking chicken. In the evening I called my sister up in Jakarta to congratulate her 33 years old’s birthday.
Friday, December 16, 2005.
In the morning Ignas and Valery took me to downtown at the public library and I borrowed some CD’s of learning languages such as Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin and France. I can borrow them for three weeks. I went to the sacrament of reconciliation at Saint Peter Loop downtown and returned home afterward. I went to CTU to renew two books I borrowed last semester and signed up on January 18th for meeting with the director of M.Div, Sister Barbara Bowe, rscj regarding reviewing my courses due to graduation of M.Div in May 2006. In the evening prayer at our community we started the novena of Christmas. At night I was preparing the power point of kaleidoscope of my community till midnight.
Saturday, December 17, 2005.
In the morning I was cleaning the kitchen as usual. At 3 p.m. for 45 minutes I had personnal meeting with my formator, Father Rocco. In the evening we had the second day of Novena of Christmas.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
In the morning together with Valery, I went to St. Therese Church. At 9.30 a.m. I attended the Mass and the Sunday School kids had Christmas celebration. Soon after the Mass, Father Michael invited me to accompany him for shopping at an Italian store, Caputo. At 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. I joined Father Michael on the meditation before the tabernacle of the church. He took me home at Hyde Park.
At 6 p.m. we (Father Rocco, Father Victor, Valery, Harno and I) went to watch a play about Thomas Merton entitled the Hermit in New York, while outside was very cold, about minus 13 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit). Upon coming home, I was eating supper and then typing this journal.
Monday, December 12, 2005.
Today I was doing the power point of kaleidoscope of my community. In the evening, a professor of Old Testament from CTU, Sister Diane Bergant came to visit our community and joined our supper cooked by Father Rocco. At night I was watching a DVD entitled the Hiding Place, about Nazi.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005.
In the morning I went to CTU to return the DVD’s I borrowed then I borrowed some 24 books of religious life as anticipation of my J-Term course on Religious Life in Context in January 2006 as well as my personal reflection toward the perpetual vows in the Xaverians. In the afternoon I was cooking, a pork soup (sayur asin baikut daing babi). In the evening at our house there was a formators meeting of some religious communities. At night I was reading some books of religious life. At night Father Pascal just returned from East Coast.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005.
In the morning Father Rocco flew to Boston and returned on Friday night. I was reading books of religious life. In the afternoon I was cooking pizza and lasagna, just warming them up in the oven. There was one guest coming to join our evening prayer and supper, namely, a sister from California, classmate of Valery at CTU. At night again I was reading a book of religious life.
Thursday, December 15, 2005.
In the morning after breakfast I was reading a book of religious life. In the afternoon I was cooking chicken. In the evening I called my sister up in Jakarta to congratulate her 33 years old’s birthday.
Friday, December 16, 2005.
In the morning Ignas and Valery took me to downtown at the public library and I borrowed some CD’s of learning languages such as Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin and France. I can borrow them for three weeks. I went to the sacrament of reconciliation at Saint Peter Loop downtown and returned home afterward. I went to CTU to renew two books I borrowed last semester and signed up on January 18th for meeting with the director of M.Div, Sister Barbara Bowe, rscj regarding reviewing my courses due to graduation of M.Div in May 2006. In the evening prayer at our community we started the novena of Christmas. At night I was preparing the power point of kaleidoscope of my community till midnight.
Saturday, December 17, 2005.
In the morning I was cleaning the kitchen as usual. At 3 p.m. for 45 minutes I had personnal meeting with my formator, Father Rocco. In the evening we had the second day of Novena of Christmas.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
In the morning together with Valery, I went to St. Therese Church. At 9.30 a.m. I attended the Mass and the Sunday School kids had Christmas celebration. Soon after the Mass, Father Michael invited me to accompany him for shopping at an Italian store, Caputo. At 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. I joined Father Michael on the meditation before the tabernacle of the church. He took me home at Hyde Park.
At 6 p.m. we (Father Rocco, Father Victor, Valery, Harno and I) went to watch a play about Thomas Merton entitled the Hermit in New York, while outside was very cold, about minus 13 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit). Upon coming home, I was eating supper and then typing this journal.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
2nd letter of December 2005
2) 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2005
Monday, December 05, 2005.
I attended the last class of presiding in which we had funeral rites as the practicum of group three. At 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. I attended a lecture by Anthony Gittins. At night I printed out 30-page of my EMP course.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005.
From 8.45 a.m. to 10 a.m. I met three formators in my community. In the afternoon I cooked two chickens that I put on the oven. It’s quite simple and easy to prepare it. In the evening I attended EMP class, the last class at this semester and I submitted the final paper.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005.
This morning is very cold, the temperature is 1 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius). I attended the last class of Amos in the morning. In the afternoon I attended the Pana Maria Mass at CTU presided by Father Gilberto, OFM. At night I printed out the final paper of Inculturation and Dialogue class as my MA paper.
Thursday, December 08, 2005.
In the morning I attended the last class of Inculturation and Dialogue and submitted the final paper. I borrowed 5 DVD’s from CTU’s library and booked in focus multimedia projector from December 22 to January 3 for the kaleidoscope of my community on December 31 night. Today is heavily snowing in Chicago. In the afternoon Father Victor led the Holy hour with rosary of luminous mystery. In the evening we had community meeting only for one hour.
Friday, December 09, 2005.
In the morning I typed some events I recorded on my journal this year for the community’s kaleidoscope. At noon to one p.m. I went to CTU to meet Father Fragomeni to review my last Indonesian Mass I did at Saint Therese Chinatown but he did not watch it, instead he treated us (4 students: Peter, svd, Michael, svd, Long Phi, svd and me) to have lunch at CTU’s cafeteria and informally talking about our second Mass we taped personally. At the end of the review, he gave me grade of Pass plus and the rest of the students (11 seminarians) only got Pass. It doesn’t effect on the grade, anyhow. From Father Victor, I got two sandisks of memory card for my camera bought by Darwin. Each has 512 MB and costs $ 13 each. It’s good deal. With this one 512 MB, I could take 600 pictures.
Saturday, December 10, 2005.
I worked at the kitchen in the morning as usual. It is a good day to rest and watch DVD’s. This noon, the friend of Angelina, namely, Shirly Sylviana, left for Indonesia after having training at Saint Charles, Illinois for 5 days. She works at IT of Accenture. Have a safe trip and we are glad to meet you. Success for you and keep in touch.
Sunday, December 11, 2005.
In the morning I went to Saint Therese Chinatown with Valery by CTA bus and train. I attended the 9.30 Mass and shared the communion. 10.45 a.m. to noon together with Cesare, I was teaching the confirmation class. All 6 students came this time and I took pictures with them before they have long vacation till next year. We meet again on January 8, 2006. I have made a list for them to serve at the altar as alter servers starting on January 8. There’s Indonesian Mass presided by Father Edi, osc. Bu Imelda this time cooked rawon. A poetry written by Ibu Imelda Palmas, I read it passionately to say farewell words to Nick, the musician/guitarist and singer at the Indonesian Catholic group in Chicago. He returns to Indonesia next week.
This afternoon Father Michael left for Franklin for his personal retreat, so I did meditation only with Edi Liang at the church. Only both of us attended this weekly prayer. Afterward, I went to Edi’s house to cut my hair. With the kindness of Edi, I could do my own vow to cut all of my hair as soon as my fall semester 2005 ends and all of my assignment and paper done. This the third time I am bald in the USA. I am glad to finish this semester earlier so I can do the power point for the community kaleidoscope.
Monday, December 05, 2005.
I attended the last class of presiding in which we had funeral rites as the practicum of group three. At 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. I attended a lecture by Anthony Gittins. At night I printed out 30-page of my EMP course.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005.
From 8.45 a.m. to 10 a.m. I met three formators in my community. In the afternoon I cooked two chickens that I put on the oven. It’s quite simple and easy to prepare it. In the evening I attended EMP class, the last class at this semester and I submitted the final paper.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005.
This morning is very cold, the temperature is 1 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius). I attended the last class of Amos in the morning. In the afternoon I attended the Pana Maria Mass at CTU presided by Father Gilberto, OFM. At night I printed out the final paper of Inculturation and Dialogue class as my MA paper.
Thursday, December 08, 2005.
In the morning I attended the last class of Inculturation and Dialogue and submitted the final paper. I borrowed 5 DVD’s from CTU’s library and booked in focus multimedia projector from December 22 to January 3 for the kaleidoscope of my community on December 31 night. Today is heavily snowing in Chicago. In the afternoon Father Victor led the Holy hour with rosary of luminous mystery. In the evening we had community meeting only for one hour.
Friday, December 09, 2005.
In the morning I typed some events I recorded on my journal this year for the community’s kaleidoscope. At noon to one p.m. I went to CTU to meet Father Fragomeni to review my last Indonesian Mass I did at Saint Therese Chinatown but he did not watch it, instead he treated us (4 students: Peter, svd, Michael, svd, Long Phi, svd and me) to have lunch at CTU’s cafeteria and informally talking about our second Mass we taped personally. At the end of the review, he gave me grade of Pass plus and the rest of the students (11 seminarians) only got Pass. It doesn’t effect on the grade, anyhow. From Father Victor, I got two sandisks of memory card for my camera bought by Darwin. Each has 512 MB and costs $ 13 each. It’s good deal. With this one 512 MB, I could take 600 pictures.
Saturday, December 10, 2005.
I worked at the kitchen in the morning as usual. It is a good day to rest and watch DVD’s. This noon, the friend of Angelina, namely, Shirly Sylviana, left for Indonesia after having training at Saint Charles, Illinois for 5 days. She works at IT of Accenture. Have a safe trip and we are glad to meet you. Success for you and keep in touch.
Sunday, December 11, 2005.
In the morning I went to Saint Therese Chinatown with Valery by CTA bus and train. I attended the 9.30 Mass and shared the communion. 10.45 a.m. to noon together with Cesare, I was teaching the confirmation class. All 6 students came this time and I took pictures with them before they have long vacation till next year. We meet again on January 8, 2006. I have made a list for them to serve at the altar as alter servers starting on January 8. There’s Indonesian Mass presided by Father Edi, osc. Bu Imelda this time cooked rawon. A poetry written by Ibu Imelda Palmas, I read it passionately to say farewell words to Nick, the musician/guitarist and singer at the Indonesian Catholic group in Chicago. He returns to Indonesia next week.
This afternoon Father Michael left for Franklin for his personal retreat, so I did meditation only with Edi Liang at the church. Only both of us attended this weekly prayer. Afterward, I went to Edi’s house to cut my hair. With the kindness of Edi, I could do my own vow to cut all of my hair as soon as my fall semester 2005 ends and all of my assignment and paper done. This the third time I am bald in the USA. I am glad to finish this semester earlier so I can do the power point for the community kaleidoscope.
Monday, December 05, 2005
1st letter of December 2005
1) 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 04, 2005
Monday, November 28, 2005.
In the morning I attended Amos class and read some articles in the library. At 1 p.m. in my presiding class, we had the rite of marriage between a Lutheran and a Catholic outside of the Mass by another group. At 5 p.m. in our community I led the lectio divina in reflecting Saint Francis Xavier’s favorite verse in the Gospel of Mark: 8:34 - 9:1. This afternoon I got birthday card from Father Luigi Menegazzo, s.x.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005.
In the morning I did type presentation of Inculturation and Dialogue class for this coming Thursday. In the evening I had class of EMP/one of the Integrating Core courses at CTU.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005.
I attended Amos class in the morning. In the afternoon I did type my final paper of EMP class, about 30 pages.
Thursday, December 01, 2005.
Today is snowing and I took some pictures of this beautiful season. I attended class of Chia and presented our dialogue with Theravadan Buddhism in the group. In the beginning of the presentation, I was chanting of the Pali language of Buddhism. I went to CVS store to print my pictures and sent them with my Christmas cards to some of my friends and families in Indonesia. In the afternoon I was cooking chicken and rice. In the evening we had a community meeting talking about our planning of St. Francis Xavier celebration. At night I prepared my reflection for tomorrow morning Mass.
Friday, December 02, 2005.
In the morning Mass I shared my reflection about 4 candles which I called candles of Peace, Faith, Love and Hope. The last is the one should be shined all the time in our life as God’s children. In the morning I went to St. Therese Church to accompany the third graders of St. Therese primary school. There were 15 kids (8 girls and 7 boys). I accompanied them to watch a Cartoon video and played some games with them. They are typical of their age whose characteristics of noisy, telling plainly and honestly what they feel and know. They are similar with the children I met in Indonesia in term of their behavior. I was happy to be with them until 1 p.m. For the lunch Father Michael, s.x. provided Pizza for all of us. I went home after buying some food at Chinese store and in the afternoon I cooked again for my community in Hyde Park. In the supper, we celebrated the birthday of Dharmawan (29). In the evening I was writing my 32 Christmas cards to be sent to Indonesia. I gave them to my guest, Shirly, who comes on Saturday.
Saturday, December 03, 2005.
In the morning I was cleaning the first floor and prepared the table for our feast of St. Francis Xavier today. In the afternoon at a quarter to four, Shirly, a friend of mine from Jakarta came to our house in Hyde Park. She stayed overnight and joined our celebration of St. Francis Xavier. At 4 p.m. together with 5 OMI’s (one priest and 4 students), we were celebrating the Mass and followed by supper. We are altogether 19 (including Father Michael who came afterward during the supper) people, singing, eating, talking, etc. At 8.30 p.m. we, the Indonesian students at the Xaverians (Ignas, Dharmawan, Harno and I) took our guest, Shirly to downtown Chicago by night. It was snowing and foggy. We took some pictures there till midnight we returned home.
Sunday, December 04, 2005.
At 8 a.m. I attended the Mass at St. Thomas Church here at Hyde Park. At 11 a.m. I accompanied Shirly to go to Saint Therese Church Chinatown, just to see Chinatown Chicago, Sears Tower, downtown Chicago, Water Tower Mall, etc. We returned home at 5 p.m. that was already dark. At 6 p.m. Ignas gave Shirly a ride to go to her training center at Saint Charles, Illinois, about 40 miles from our house. We helped her to reach her room and we said Good Bye afterward. She is going to leave for Indonesia on Saturday. She only has chance to see downtown Chicago before she starts her training on Monday to Friday, so it’s a privilege for me to welcome her in Chicago. I am glad that what we have planned before through Internet correspondence finally has been real coming true as it is. She is a roommate of Angelina, my friend in Jakarta. Through real and true friendship we witness the goodness of the Lord.
Monday, November 28, 2005.
In the morning I attended Amos class and read some articles in the library. At 1 p.m. in my presiding class, we had the rite of marriage between a Lutheran and a Catholic outside of the Mass by another group. At 5 p.m. in our community I led the lectio divina in reflecting Saint Francis Xavier’s favorite verse in the Gospel of Mark: 8:34 - 9:1. This afternoon I got birthday card from Father Luigi Menegazzo, s.x.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005.
In the morning I did type presentation of Inculturation and Dialogue class for this coming Thursday. In the evening I had class of EMP/one of the Integrating Core courses at CTU.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005.
I attended Amos class in the morning. In the afternoon I did type my final paper of EMP class, about 30 pages.
Thursday, December 01, 2005.
Today is snowing and I took some pictures of this beautiful season. I attended class of Chia and presented our dialogue with Theravadan Buddhism in the group. In the beginning of the presentation, I was chanting of the Pali language of Buddhism. I went to CVS store to print my pictures and sent them with my Christmas cards to some of my friends and families in Indonesia. In the afternoon I was cooking chicken and rice. In the evening we had a community meeting talking about our planning of St. Francis Xavier celebration. At night I prepared my reflection for tomorrow morning Mass.
Friday, December 02, 2005.
In the morning Mass I shared my reflection about 4 candles which I called candles of Peace, Faith, Love and Hope. The last is the one should be shined all the time in our life as God’s children. In the morning I went to St. Therese Church to accompany the third graders of St. Therese primary school. There were 15 kids (8 girls and 7 boys). I accompanied them to watch a Cartoon video and played some games with them. They are typical of their age whose characteristics of noisy, telling plainly and honestly what they feel and know. They are similar with the children I met in Indonesia in term of their behavior. I was happy to be with them until 1 p.m. For the lunch Father Michael, s.x. provided Pizza for all of us. I went home after buying some food at Chinese store and in the afternoon I cooked again for my community in Hyde Park. In the supper, we celebrated the birthday of Dharmawan (29). In the evening I was writing my 32 Christmas cards to be sent to Indonesia. I gave them to my guest, Shirly, who comes on Saturday.
Saturday, December 03, 2005.
In the morning I was cleaning the first floor and prepared the table for our feast of St. Francis Xavier today. In the afternoon at a quarter to four, Shirly, a friend of mine from Jakarta came to our house in Hyde Park. She stayed overnight and joined our celebration of St. Francis Xavier. At 4 p.m. together with 5 OMI’s (one priest and 4 students), we were celebrating the Mass and followed by supper. We are altogether 19 (including Father Michael who came afterward during the supper) people, singing, eating, talking, etc. At 8.30 p.m. we, the Indonesian students at the Xaverians (Ignas, Dharmawan, Harno and I) took our guest, Shirly to downtown Chicago by night. It was snowing and foggy. We took some pictures there till midnight we returned home.
Sunday, December 04, 2005.
At 8 a.m. I attended the Mass at St. Thomas Church here at Hyde Park. At 11 a.m. I accompanied Shirly to go to Saint Therese Church Chinatown, just to see Chinatown Chicago, Sears Tower, downtown Chicago, Water Tower Mall, etc. We returned home at 5 p.m. that was already dark. At 6 p.m. Ignas gave Shirly a ride to go to her training center at Saint Charles, Illinois, about 40 miles from our house. We helped her to reach her room and we said Good Bye afterward. She is going to leave for Indonesia on Saturday. She only has chance to see downtown Chicago before she starts her training on Monday to Friday, so it’s a privilege for me to welcome her in Chicago. I am glad that what we have planned before through Internet correspondence finally has been real coming true as it is. She is a roommate of Angelina, my friend in Jakarta. Through real and true friendship we witness the goodness of the Lord.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)