Happy New Year!

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent, in addition to that meaning I am only three weeks from heading East, it also marks the beginning of the New Year in the western Church. With the start of this New Year, we are given the opportunity to prepare for Christ's coming - not only the memorial of His coming at Christmas, but also preparation for the time at which Christ will come again. As Fr. Dave reminded all those at St. Isaac Jogues in his homily this weekend, we all prepare for things in a different way, and the coming of Christ is no exception! The Church encourages us to use the season of Advent as a time of prayer, penitence, and thanksgiving as we prepare to memorialize Christ's first coming, and that time in which we will reach our salvation with Him. Even with these general guidelines, we will each experience and reach for God in different ways. In order to reach toward God, I belive it is sometimes necessary to set specific goals. Just as we make New Year's Resolutions on December 31st, I believe it is also necessary to set "spiritual resolutions." While we can - and should - set spiritual goals throughout the year, this first Sunday of Advent, and start of our New Year seem a perfect time to begin! Here are my spiritual resolutions, for the Church year 2010. 1.) Finally finish reading Armchair Mystic! I got this book almost three years ago, and have still yet to finish it! I was really frustrated with myself over this, until I reread the introduction, in which Fr. Thibodeaux states that we are not all or always ready to begin meditative prayer, I realise that I am now more ready to begin this type of prayer life than I was in the past. 2.) To read at least one non-Jesuit prayer/spiritual book. I have nothing against the SJs, I have just realised that almost all of my spiritual knowledge and education has been from the Jesuit perspective, and I believe that the more well rounded my spiritual education is the more well developed my spirituality will be as well. Suggestons (Catholic or otherwise) very welcome!! What are your resolutions this Advent?

The Magis Pillars - Spirituality

Like other UCCE programs (and for that matter the majority of other service programs I have seen friends enter such as JVC, Capuchin & Augustinian volunteers etc.) the Magis program is driven by three pillars - one of which is spirituality. As I have progressed through my life, and on my spiritual journey I have found that each phase of my life makes me realize the necessity of God's grace and support more than the last. This has certainly been true as I enter a phase of my life which takes me away from my home, and in charge of a classroom of teenagers even on the days I forget that I am actually a REAL adult now... As I reflect on the beginning of my time in the Magis program, I realize that the spirituality pillar is in many ways two-pronged. We are asked to expand our personal relationship with God, to make progress on our spiritual journeys, but are also given support, resources and guidance to help us along the way. During the summer this support came in the form of regular faith sharing gatherings with our chaplain Fr. Anand, shared prayer/Grace before community meals, the Magis Missioning Mass, and our summer retreat at beautiful Camp Comeca. During the school year I am supported not only by Magis itself, but also the community of my school - STM - where we have weekly Mass or prayer services, grace before Lunch, prayer at every football game, and everyday over the intercom and in classes. Just as important to my summer, as these formal spirituality activities were the ones that simply arose in our time as community - the opportunities to attend daily Mass in St. John's, the simple witness of praying before lunch in Skutt, and the casual yet intellectual conversations which managed to occur in almost any setting. Magis Teachers with Omaha Archbishop George Lucas at Commissioning: St. John's Church at Creighton University - while it was lacking in the intimacy and familiarity of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, it was beautiful and a great place to attend Mass all summer: For more photos of Commissioning, Summer Fun, Retreat etc. check out our community photo albums on Picasa at http://picasaweb.google.com/magisphotos