"God, come to my assistance!"

So, today I had the privilege of leading my first liturgical service. I was the leader of Morning Prayer today at St. Meinrad seminary. What an exciting day. It wasn't perfect on my part, but it represents the first Liturgical step for me to the priesthood. Thank you, God.

"Even the sparrow finds a home"

I awoke today to a sound I have not heard since last Fall: birds chirping outside my window!  Spring is fast approaching!  How blessed I am to be following my vocation to the priesthood in a place of beauty and peace.  This is something I often forget.  What is more important, though, is that the most important place I reside is in the Lord's Presence.  I am reminded of one of my favorite psalms:

"How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD of hosts!

My soul longs, indeed it faints

for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and my flesh sing for joy

to the living God.

"Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young,

at your altars, O LORD of hosts,

my King and my God.

Happy are those who live in your house,

ever singing your praise."

Psalm 84:1-4             

Amen.

From the Rector:

During these days of Lent, we Catholics are good about reminding people in what ways we may be fasting or abstaining for this season.  In other words, we can really grumble and complain about not getting to eat that cheeseburger.  But the other day, during his homily to the seminary community, Fr. Denis Robinson ended his words with something I'll never forget:

"Who can say we are fasting, when we have food such as this to enjoy?"

New Website for the Arch-D of OKC!!!!

Finally, after years of being an obsolete jumble of facts and bullet points, the new website for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is up and ready!!  YAY!!!!

Ash Wednesday

"Turn back to the Lord and do penance.  Be renewed in heart and spirit."

-- Office of Readings, Ash Wednesday

May this holy season of Lent bring spiritual rebirth and zeal to you.

One year Anniversary: Congrats to Archbishop Coakley!

One year ago, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City welcomed its newest shepherd, Archbishop Paul Coakley, previously of the Diocese of Salina, Kansas.

I know I am joined by many when I say "Thank you" to our beloved pastor, and in wishing him continued success in bringing the Gospel to the people of Oklahoma.

Monsignor Weisenburger Named Bishop of Salina

So, this morning I was woken up by my phone, and it wasn't the alarm.  My mother called.  She said:
"I just heard something, Monsignor Weisenburger is the new bishop of Salina!"

It is an exciting moment for my pastor.  He leaves the Sooner State to become the shepherd of the long-vacant diocese of Salina Kansas, which, ironically, is where the Archdiocese of OKC got its new archbishop. 

As the Good Book says; "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away."

Be assured of my prayers for you, Bishop-elect. 

Bye Bye Facebook...

Well, here we go again.  I've decided to get rid of my Facebook account, and hopefully this will be the final time I do so.  It's sort of like a friend of mine who has become a recent ex-smoker once said: "After so many times, I've should be an expert at giving it up by now!"  (This friend, by the way, has been successfully smoke-free since the beginning of the year.  Bravo to you, sir!)

Facebook was a fun waste-of-time for me for the past 7 years, but I think I've grown out of it.  Plus, it has a bit of a creep-factor for me nowadays...

So, there we go.  Goodbye, old friend; now get off my back! ;-)