3rd letter of March 2006

Sunday, March 19, 2006
3rd letter of March 2006
3) 3rd Sunday of Lent, March 19, 2006

Monday, March 13, 2006.
I attended the morning classes: natural law and the Beguines. In the afternoon Valery gave me opportunity to drive the white car to go to Ford City, close to Midway Airport. For the first time I drove a car in the highway (55) toward home. Soon after arrived home I did type my short paper for biblical spirituality paper. In the evening I went to CTU to attend the class of biblical spirituality. At night Father Kun, s.j. from Milwaukee called up and told me that one of his friend from Hawaii will come to Chicago on April 20-24 and asks to stay at our house.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006.
No class today. I did type a 2-page paper of Integrating core and posted it at Moodle. In the afternoon I cooked (garlic bread, corn, bean) for the community.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006.
Morning class: natural law and the Beguines. From 12.30 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. I had meeting with Father Rocco for my personal preparation toward final vows. We talked about vows at our Xaverian Constitution. In the afternoon Father Adolph came to visit us here before he went to Franklin.

Thursday, March 16, 2006.
Morning class: integrating core, the professor didn’t come because of sick (flu) so we had group discussion talking about our plan of house blessing. I met Barbara Bowe, the professor of biblical spirituality and asked about my MA paper and she helped me find some biblical resources. In the evening at the community meeting, Father Pascal led us for the second time a topic of Priesthood and we had discussion till almost 10 p.m. What is liberal and conservative priest?

Friday, March 17, 2006.
In the morning I put some data of addresses on my organizer I have received yesterday. I bought it through E-bay.com $ 27. At 5.30 p.m. we had prayer of station of the cross led by Father Victor. We had simple supper: soup and bread cooked and prepared by Ignasius. At night I sent my invitation of final vows and deaconate ordination to some friends via e-mail.

Saturday, March 18, 2006.
In the morning I cleaned the kitchen and did laundry. At 5 p.m. I attended the Japanese Mass and gathering at the Columban House at Hyde Park. There were 10 people coming to this monthly gathering. It’s my first time coming to this friendship Mass and supper. The presider of the Mass is Father Ron, a Passionist (CP) who worked in Japan for 3o years. In this occasion there is a farewell party of Kikuyo Yamamoto, a sister of Society of Helpers. She goes back to Japan. I got her name card in case I can see her in Japan next coming years. I was amazed by the experience of some priests who attended this gathering who did mission in Japan for years. They are very fluently speaking Japanese. It’s an opportunity for me to introduce myself to Japanese culture before I am really immersed as a missionary. It lasted at 9 p.m.

Sunday, March 19, 2006.
In the morning at 7.30 p.m. together with Valery and Atumisi (the driver), I came to St. Therese church at Chinatown. Atumisi was practicing his acolyte ministry at 8 a.m. Mass presided by Father Aniello. Father Michael left for China till April 6th. At 9.30 a.m. Mass I was serving at the Mass with Cesare, deacon Paul and Father Aniello. From 11 to 12 p.m. Cesare was teaching our confirmation class about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. All 6 children came. I was talking with Rocky’s second daughter, Rumina, who studies at UIC and Sandra from mainland China who studies for 4 months at CTU. She got a scholarship from Whitehead’s couple. We had lunch at the rectory with George, Matthew and Valery. George told me the printing cost little cards and invitation of my final vows and deaconate ordination. With Valery I went home by white car and I did drive it through the highway. After taking a nap for a while I was typing this journal.