Last Day in Canada

After going to church twice I got to spend the rest of my last day in Canada with my blood cousins. The first three pictures are from the skyline in downtown Toronto. One = The CN Tower. Two = The Skydome. Three = Royal Bank Plaza (it is plated with gold).

Now for pictures of the Family!

A picture of the Cousins: Me, Rafik, Rami, Patrick, and Andre

A picture of the whole Gang: Rafik, Me, Taunt Paula, Patrick, Rami, Andre, and Uncle Adel

Rami and I

Hadi and I

Sunday Church Visits

On Sunday I woke up and found out that the night before when my Uncle Hadi and I came home from dinner with Taunt Sonia and her son Patrick, I actually left both the house and my car keys on the outside of the front door. On top of that I locked front door from the inside of the house and when my cousins came home early Sunday morning they found the keys in the door. After apologizing for my stupid mistake to my Uncle Adel I went to church at St. Bonaventure's for 8:30am Mass. This is the same Church that Reto had his Solemn Vows of Profession and it was founded and built in 1959 by the friars. Below are pictures of the outside of the church, the church sign, and inside of the church.
After Mass I then when to Grace Chapel to visit my cousin Amira and to worship with her. Interestingly Grace Chapel is currently worshiping in the basement of the Holiday Inn. This Baptist rooted congregation is a break off of another church that is Presbyterian rooted. My cousin is part of the music ministry from this community. Prior to Sunday I never knew she played the piano or the keyboard. Below are pictures of the outside of the church, the church logo, and inside of the church.Lastly here are two pictures of my cousin Amira: one of her playing the keyboard and one of the two of us. To be honest Amira is not my blood cousin but only cousin by name, I just wanted to clarify.

Bed

It is 12:42am and I just got in from Canada. I will post pictures from my adventures with the relatives tomorrow!

Reto's Solemn Profession of Vows

Today was the not only the celebration of the Assumption of Mary but it was also the Profession of Solemn Vows of Friar Reto Davatz. After waking up and checking out of the hotel I went to my Taunt (Arabic of Aunt) Paula's house for breakfast with my Uncle Adel and their two children Rami and Andre. Soon after breakfast I was off to St. Bonaventure Church for Reto's profession where my other Aunt - Taunt Sonia and her husband Uncle Ezzat. It was a wonderful celebration here are a couple pictures from the day.

Reto's Being Called ForthReto prostrating for the Litany of the Saints

Reto Professing his Solemn Vows in the hands of Fr. Justin Biase
with his witnesses Friar Brad Mulinski (Left) and Friar Peter Cowans (Right)

A close-up during the Profession

Reto Signing the Book

The Presentation of the Gifts: Reto's Mom is giving Reto's Dad (the Deacon) the Bread

Mr. Davatz preparing the wine

Uncle Ezzat, Me, and Taunt Sonia at the reception

My family with Reto

Congratulation Reto!!!!

Canada

Hello Everyone! I am currently in Toronto, Canada. Tomorrow on August 15, Friar Reto Davatz will be professing his Solemn Vows. So I drove up to Canada from Syracuse to support and celebrate with him. Also on this trip I will visit with my two aunts, one uncle, and my cousins. I can't wait to see them and to celebrate one of aunt's birthday on Sunday. Well I am going to cut this post short because I am using the hotel's common computer and there are people waiting. Until tomorrow...

Softball

Today was my first experience of watching the Poverello Team play softball. The Poverello Team is composed of a hodgepodge of religious, married, and single women who gather of Thursday Evening to play against other local teams. The Sisters are members of the Sisters of St. Francis, the same community as Blessed Marianne Cope. Below are some pictures for the game. PS: After the game we went to Twin Trees for pizza! It was delicious.

Sr. Cyril

(Teacher during the school year, pantry volunteer on Tuesdays, and pitcher by night)

Sr. Dolly

(Sister of many talents by day and third base by night)

Sr. JP

(Nurse by day and second base/pitcher by night)

Terry

(Head boss man at the pantry Thursday and Friday and Blessed Marianne Cope Museum tour guide by day and Dad and softball coach by night)

Nancy (Head boss lady at the pantry Monday-Wednesday by day and Mom, sewer, quilter, apple-guru, and sports fan by night) and Pat (Monday and Friday volunteer at the pantry by day and Italian cook and sports fan by night)

The Three Musketeers:

Srs. Dolly, JP and Cyril

The Whole Gang

(Nancy, Sr. Cyril, Pat, Me, Sr. JP, and Sr. Dolly - Minus Coach)

Serenity Prayer...

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Hello Everyone! Peace be with you! Lately I have been reflecting on the Serenity Prayer. At first it was a prayer that I did not like and it was difficult one to pray, but now I see it's beauty and it's underlining push for peace. I decided to do a Good Search about the Serenity Prayer and looked for information about the prayer and found out something interesting. First that the prayer was written by Reinhold Niebuhr an American Protestant theologian in 1943. Second - the interesting fact - that the prayer as we know it is actually an abbreviated form and the entire prayer reads as follows:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.
Amen.

May this addition to the Serenity Prayer give you more fruit for your thought and spiritual life!

Feast of St. Clare

Today is the Feast of St. Clare and it was a busy day at the pantry! Since we are in the middle of month - our "low" period - we are trying to build up a stock of sandwiches for the end of the month and when the child-feeding programs ends. Since the pantry's regular meat slicers were not here today yours truly became the meat slicer for the day. The first picture is of bologna before it is sliced. We have to cut the meat in half before we begin to cut the bologna using the slicer. The second picture is of the bologna on the slicer and lastly there is a picture of me cutting the meat.

But this was only the beginning of my time in the kitchen today. Myself, Sr. Therese (a Franciscan Sister originally from Egypt), and Linda (our friary cook) collaborated to make an Arabic/Egyptian meal. We made Molokhia with rice and roasted chicken. I made the Molokhia (a green leaf soup, chicken broth, and roasted garlic) and a red onion with red wine vinegar topping. Sr. Therese made the rice. Linda made the roasted chicken. The dinner was served with pita bread and mango and guava juice. Thankfully the friars and the sisters loved the meal. So cheers to St. Clare and may the food and the company always for good.

PS: Br. Jim Moore says "Blog this" and Br. Peter wishes to be "unblogged"

Rain, Rain, and more Rain

Peace be with you! Well after living in San Antonio and in Jamaica I prayed and prayed for rain. While on vacation in NJ and over the past two days in Syracuse those prayers have been answered; oh how I wish that I could funnel that rain to San Antonio or Jamaica. Maybe in the future this could be possible.

Like most things rain can be a blessing and a curse. It can be a blessing because it can grant farmers and their crops with abundant produce to feed countless people. Yet rain can also be a curse because it can be dangerous to drive with and devastating to the homeless and poor. Today I saw that curse or the inconvenience while serving dinner at the food pantry. Some of those we minister to came in drenched head to toe with rain. I wish I could have done something to help them. Hopefully a smile and a warm hello helped them to have a not so dreary day.

God Bless and Stay Dry!

Blessed Marianne Cope

Today is the 91st Death Anniversary of Mother Marianne Cope a member of the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse. In honor of the saint I new very little about I went to her Shrine for Mass today with Fr. Conrad. Here is a link to her website Blessed Marianne Cope Website. Blessed Marianne worked with those suffering from leprosy in Hawaii. A quote of hers that I like is “The charity of the good knows no creed and is confined to no one place." Here are some pictures from the Shrine where there is a wooden reliquary with here remains.

Day 1

Today is my father's birthday! He turns 68 and is still as loving, carefree, and funny (or trying to be) as ever. Unfortunately I was not able to make it down to New Jersey from Syracuse to see him but I called him and he knows that I am praying for him. Here is a picture with my dad and family from his birthday last year!Cheers to you Pops!

Julie and Julia...

Dear Family, Friends, Friars, and those who may find this interesting,

Peace be with you! As you can tell from looking at my "Older Posts" section I have not been so faithful to my blog. Well last night I went to see the movie Julie and Julia which I loved for three reasons. One is because it is about Julia Child and my mother loves Julia Child and so do I. Two is because I love cooking and eating. And three because Julie Powell has now inspired me to make a blog commitment... for those who know me well brace yourselves!

I promise to post on my blog each day for the next year! Yep, 365 days and 365 posts!

Here I go....

FIT Bound...

Hello Everyone! Peace be with you! Today I received some wonderful news: my brother Alex was accepted to college!!! As of the fall he will be attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. I am so proud and excited for him that I had to write a post about him.

Over the past 3 years my brother's love for art has kindled and has not stopped burning. I came back from my Novitiate year and he had artwork all over the house. Below is the first drawing he did that year (using ribbon as his inspiration) and the last drawing he did that year (using Audrey Hepburn as his inspiration). The one with Audrey Hepburn entitled "Breakfast at Caucci's" (after his art teacher) was in Alex's High School Literary magazine ETC. Needless say I am proud for and bragging about my brother.

Alex's latest endeavor is textile design (that which will be his major at FIT). He is working with a fellow senior classmate of his to create a 10 piece fashion line including handmade/designed fabrics and materials. The line will include 4 male outfits and 6 female outfits. If you have every seen the show Project Runway - then you know what the basement of my parent's house looks like.

CONGRATULATIONS ALEX!!!
New York won't know what hit them!

A Simple House

You are probably wondering, "Who are all these people and why is Nader not in the picture?" Well I am not in the picture because this is a picture of entire A Simple House community. Essential A Simple House is an organization of lay missionaries who work with the poorest of the poor in the neighborhoods of Washington, DC and now Kansas City, MO. My good friend Ryan Hehman is a member of this group, but that is not way I am dedicating a post to his life's work.

A Simple House was contacted by The Washington Post and a very interesting article was written about them. I encourage you to check out the article entitled "A Not-So-Simple Life". Why? - because they are just one of many organizations that address the poverty present here in America -as some say 'the wealthiest nation in the world." One does not need to travel to Africa to find the poor, rather drive a couple blocks to "wrong side of town" or walk into the backyard and you will see poverty here in our own country. A Simple House not only goes to see the poor, but works with them, gets into the heart of their messy complex lives, and reaches out a hand to say "I am here to walk with you."

There have been some very cynical and pessimistic comments posted in response to the article written about A Simple House. I recently added my own not so pessimistic comment to the website as well.. The article does not due the organization justice for the good work they do. Granted not everything is accurate and as all media there is a spin placed to it by the writers of the article; but A Simple House is trying to put the Gospel into action in a way they feel called. Not everyone is to live as they live, yet we are called to address poverty within the vocations we have been given. If you feel called please leave a positive comment after reading the article.

At the house of formation in San Antonio, the homeless and those who are in need of food can come to our door for sandwiches during the daylight hours. We offer bologna and cheese with mayonnaise, mustard, or both or peanut butter and jelly. If we have an abundance of sweets or fruit we give that away too. We do not give out any cash, but in this tiny way we help to satisfy their stomachs. I know that this is something small, that it is not a solution, and that it is temporary, but you would not believe the number of people that can come to our door some days. We have our regulars and we have those one timers too. I try to ask those who come to our door their name and shake their hand - it is important for me to give them dignity by calling them by name. I also like to toast the bread for them because when I make a sandwich for myself that is what I do - so I try to do it for them too.

In what ways are you able to help the poor? Help out at the local Soup Kitchen - do you even know where that soup kitchen is? The next time a homeless or poor person asks you for money, don't just give them money but buy them lunch and if you have time sit with them. Find out where your local Habitat for Humanity Affiliate is. Donate your used clothing to a shelter. Look in your parish bulletin for community service opportunities. If you have a considerable amount of leftover after going out to eat arrange them nice in the to-go box and then give them to the first homeless person you see. Pray for the poor and those suffering in your daily prayers. I know that these are not solutions to the societal sin of poverty - but if everyone did a little something maybe the sin would no longer exist.

A New Day.....

Today began a new day for me for many reasons...

1) Today is a new day because it is literally a new day. A new day to try harder, to love more, to grow in conversion, to be alive, and to breathe for another day. It is another to change and to bring about the Kingdom of God on Earth.

2) Today is a new day because I began classes at Oblate for the spring semester. This marks the beginning of my fourth semester here, my 2nd of my 2nd year, and the end of halfway point for my graduate studies for the priesthood. It is exciting just to start new classes for me and to see my fellow students and my teachers again. For the first time every in my life I filled in my calendar with all the dates and times of my classes before the semester even started. Usually I am rushing to buy books, organize my supplies, start my course readings, and fill in my calendar at the same time - now I am somewhat prepared for the semester. I am actually taking seven classes this year - before you call me let me explain. I am taking the five regular courses for my track: Pauline Literature (how perfect during the year of St. Paul), Pastoral Counseling, Catholic Social Thought, Theological Field Education, and Christology. Then I am taking a class called Elements of Mission on the missionary life of the Catholic Church in prep for Costa Rica and other future ministries. And last but not least I am taking actually auditing Earth Our Home: Biblical and Theological Perspectives - which will be taught by nine professors each sharing about the Earth and their particular academic expertise. So I am looking forward to it.

3) Today is a new day because the 44th President of the United States was sworn in, President Barack H. Obama. At school we gathered in the student lounge to watch this historic event not only for Americans but for citizens of the whole world. It was powerful to have students, faculty, and staff of all ages, races, and experiences together at that moment. As the first African American President Barak he is leading us into a day many never imagined. What will come about during his presidency I do not know - but what I do know is that I live in hope. Hope for our country, the world, and God's kingdom. May God Bless Barack Obama has he leads our broken and hurt country hopefully into one of more peace marked by forgiveness.

4) Today is a new day for me to be thankful for my life and the lives of each person I encounter. I ponder the death of a member of one of the parishes that our friars staff. I did not personally know this person, but their death as due to suicide. What I ponder is what makes someone feel so compelled to commit suicide? I would like to say that I am not condoning in any way those who have committed suicide and I am not passing judgment on those who mourn the death of a suicide victim. I cannot begin to imagine the torment and the loneliness one goes through in thinking about, attempting, and/or succeeding in committing suicide. There is one thing I can imagine though, that is seeing God wrapping His arms around those who have committed suicide as he or she enters heaven. I can just hear God saying the most loving way "I love you and you are home." Know that you are loved by God and that God is always with you even when you cannot feel His presence - God is there. Do not lose hope in God's love or care for you!

Good Night and God Bless!

1st Day Home in NJ for Christmas...

I am finally finished with a pretty intense first semester of classes at Oblate for my second year of Master's work, wrapped up the first half of my 5th year with the friars, and I am now at my parent's house in New Jersey. It has been both a challenging yet joyful semester, one of growth and of hope for me. I survived 5 finals (by God's grace) and am prepping for next semester ahead of me. Some highlights from the past months include welcoming Ian and Mario to our house of formation, the ordination of two of our friars to the priesthood (Frs. Justin and Eric), working with the RCIA process for my ministry, practicing the Sacrament of Baptism both in Spanish and English (wearing the vestments, praying the ritual, and "baptizing" a doll), and lastly finding out that I am going to Costa Rica for the summer and my apostolic year (which is next year) as well as visiting our Mission in Jamaica. So needless to say I have learned a lot about myself and my vocation over the last couple of months.

Now onto my first full day home for Christmas break...It was busy yet blessed. I visited Tony's Hair Salon for the first time in about 5 years. I spent many Saturdays there as a child will my mom got her hair done. It was very nostalgic and a great realization that I have grown up. I was graced to eat lunch with Pokey and Noreen today as they travelled to Noreen's house for a pre-Christmas visit to her family. We ate a pretty swanky diner and simply enjoyed being together. I went to Mass with my mom and then the infamous Ata Family - aka Mom and Son - Christmas Shopping Trip #2 occurred today (yesterday we went to Target). We spent 5 hours in the mall and I loved every minute of it. I don't get bothered by the parking spot hunting, store searching, long-line waiting, or the crowd controlling. I actually enjoy shopping this time of year more than any other time of year.

Why you might wonder? It is one the few times of the year that you get to see people out and about shopping for others - whether they want to or not - or are doing it for the right reasons or not - rather they are spending so that others might have. Call me crazy, for I know that many are shopping under a consumeristic mindset yet, I have to give them the benefit of the doubt that the gift buying is to bring happiness and some type of joy to another fellow human being. It is a wonderful time to buy a person something that they will love and hopefully something that is practical. I also love going home and then wrapping those gifts, what a joy it is to put something up in a box, with wrapping paper, and a bow (if you can find one) and to imagine the excitement on a person's face as he or she opens it on Christmas day. Ahh...priceless. Even if there were no gifts at all, there is great joy of being around those you love and to know that one who is love itself is born in the flesh of our flesh.

Peace be with you and please take a moment each day amidst all of your preparation for Christmas to say "Yes Lord, I want you to come into my life!"

In case you are wondering what a friar would ask his family for Christmas - besides simply being with them and friends - I asked for books to help with preaching, CVS gift cards, and under garments - all will be fruitful for me both spiritually and physically.