Life changes like the leaves of autumn

Life has completely turned over since my last post!

I have accepted a job in Campus Ministry at the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota as Coordinator of Liturgical Celebrations. I am back in St. Paul and love every minute of it. I think God each day for the blessings he has afforded me. I am nothing; He is everything.

We are a short two weeks away from the implementation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. I won't bore my readers with a theological exegesis but will direct you to Campus Ministry's website: www.stthomas.edu/campusministry/missal for a brief overview. For more in depth materials check out: http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal

A mere fortnight before the new translation also means we're a fortnight from Advent. I should begin my annual rant against all things Christmas before Thanksgiving...but won't rant this year since there is good news on that score! Nordstrom announced: "We won't be decking our halls until Friday, November 27. Why? Well, we just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time." Take a wild guess where I'll be doing my Christmas shopping.

For the first time in my whole short nearly 23 years of existence, I have my own apartment. Since I live, breath, and now WORK by the liturgical calendar, I have a decision to make about how soon I'll decorate for Christmas. The thought had crossed my mind to wait until right before I went back to Illinois to celebrate with my family. At long last I made a decision. In the readings and prayers at Mass and in the Liturgy of the Hours, the last week before Christmas transitions into a true preparation of the celebration of the Nativity. I will make that same transition. December 17th is the date...which gives me the perfect excuse to leave them up through Candlemas or the Feast of the Presentation -- Feb 2nd.

Tomorrow the UST Chapel will celebrate the Rite of Acceptance for the RCIA candidates and catechumens. A week later we're pulling out all the stops for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. (That also happens to be the last Sunday with the former translation...a pretty good send off, I'd say.) Stay tuned...

Now onto some letter writing: a friend in the Dominican novitiate particularly and anyone else who tickles my fancy.