Classes, Chior, and Competition

JMJ

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And thus I emerge from my long hiatus and re-enter into the blogging realm. While these short quips are not much I hope they are at least enough to share with you some of my more unique experiences while at seminary. These blogs are really my answer to a challenge. For it has been said that my communication on the device known as the telephone is a bit lacking, hence I avoid it all together and blog. In doing so I may be a fool, but at least I am avoiding the gravity of seriousness.

Now on to more important matters like my time here at Mundelein. Tomorrow will mark my last day of my first week of philosophy and Latin classes. To help you visualize this reality I have attached a symbol of a time honored, but perhaps foolish tradition of a picture on the first day of classes. Why the first day and not the last day, I haven't the slightest clue. It would seem that one would want to take a picture of the last day, as t hat is when we would be most joyous and mature, and avoid the first day of ignorance. Nonetheless, here is the picture, take it as you will.

Nothing that precedes this next paragraph really has any bearing on the focus of this blog, so I hope you did not read all of it, and if you did...well I guess that is true love. In this blog I wanted to share with you my time thus far in classes, choir, and competition. First, Classes. Well ,thus far I have learned that Christ is the ideal, and that I am not him. This revelation was a good one, as it allowed me to rejoice in my lack of gravity and self-belief. (Which in fact makes life much lighter, and less like an asylum.) From that lesson I have moved on to philosophy and Latin, as well as catechism and spirituality, which are all good things...very light indeed.

Choir has been a new experience all together. While our director is not that of St. Lawrence's, no indeed her stature and gender don't allow for it, she does sing very well and somehow manages to keep 220 men on key. This is her feat, and it is impressive. The actual class and practicing is done outside of the chapel in a small second story room. It is there that we make the majority of our mistakes, thank God. So far all has gone well and I am truly learning quite a bit about my voice and practices of singing. However, she has also explained to me that this does not involve laughing during the performance, which I take issue with, but that is just my issue so I won't worry too much about it.

Lastly, my competition experience since coming to seminary has been interesting. Tomorrow, I head out for a weekend of soccer and volleyball in conception, Mo, which ought to be a great time. There are about 25 of us who are running away from the seminary for the weekend, but we sorrowfully planed our escape route directly toward another seminary. Nonetheless, the weekend should be a great time to relax and be with some of my new found brothers. Other than these few updates and the various unremembered or unmentioned experiences this has been my life thus far. As my life here unfolds I'll try to keep you in the know, as I continue to yearn for levity. Peace be with you!