Admission to Candidacy

On the evening of 28 May 2011 I had the distinct privilege of attending the Admission to Candidacy for my friend Paul Solomon. This ceremony took place at the 6:30pm Anticipatory Mass for the Sixth Sunday of Easter at his home parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Naperville, Illinois. Bishop Siegel, “interim bishop” for the Diocese of Joliet, celebrated the Mass.

Paul and I studied in Rome together in the spring of 2010 and graduated 21 May 2011 from the University of Saint Thomas. He studied at UST for four years as a college seminarian through Saint John Vianney Seminary. This Admission to Candidacy begins his major formation for the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. The ceremony beautifully portrayed the innocence and trust of a man giving his life in the service of Jesus Christ. He came before the bishop publicly declaring his intent and received the Bishop's blessing as the Church formally welcomed him. The next four years will see Paul studying in Rome, Italy through the Pontifical North American College (PNAC). He will return in the spring of 2015 and be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. Please offer prayers for Mr. Solomon as he begins this new chapter of his journey. Pray also for all vocations, priestly and other religious. Their lifelong service is desperately needed in an often confused and broken world.

...that I may bear fruit in You.

Well over four months since my last entry, I am finally able to write again. Welcome to life post-college. Last Saturday, I graduated from the University of Saint Thomas with two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Liturgical Music and Catholic Studies. The blessings of the past four years are filled with manifold graces. Now it is time to move on to the next chapter of my life. I am spending my time back home while involved in a full-time job hunt. The exciting part is I could land anywhere…use a map of the continental United States as a dart board and I have as likely a chance to land there as anywhere else. The prospects are there. Hopefully it will just be a matter of finding the right fit.

In the meantime, I’m enjoying time with my family. I’ve begun to work on a new song, I actually spent some time reading for leisure, and I will soon make an attempt to learn to play the guitar.

Despite a tornado warning north of Minneapolis on Sunday, I am blessed to not have been tragically affected by these horrific storms ripping through various parts of the US. Prayers go out to those who have endured the worst of this spring: Alabama and Joplin, Missouri just to name a couple. May eternal rest be granted unto the dead.

University of Saint Thomas Liturgical Choir anthem:
From “Odes of Solomon”, 2nd century

Teach me the songs of Your truth, Oh Lord,
that I may bear fruit in You.
Open to me the music of Your Holy Spirit
that with every note I may praise You.
Out of Your abundant kindness, grant me this,
for You are sufficient for all our needs.
Alleluia.