Who we are...

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Thanks to Fr. Darren for posting this video on his blog. Props to DefendUsInBattleBlog for making the video!

Good News on the Priest Front!

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My good friend Adam over at Muddling through my Catholic life has gone to the seminary! Adam and I graduated from Quincy University together and have contemplated Catholicism over many a beer for the past two years with many great friends. I know that Adam will make a great priest- even though he will not take any of my "suggestions" for when he becomes Pope:

• Like institute a World Youth Day bar crawl.
• Put a bar in every church.
• Wear dreadlocks with his pope hat.
• Integrate Bob Marley songs in the Liturgy.

Did I mention that Adam and I drank many a beer together?

In all seriousness, I ask that you all pray for Adam and his fellow seminarians as they continue to discern where God is calling them. And while you're at it- give some love to the lay seminarians as well!

St. John Vianney- Patron Saint of Diocesan Priests- Pray for us!

Awkward Catholic Moment #6...

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75% of American Catholics are not aware of the new changes to the Mass.

This might be the most Awkward moment yet. Fr.Jim gives a couple of great resources at the end of his blog so you can read up on the changes.

Anyway, sorry for the blog silence. I am still battling jet lag from my trip to World Youth Day. Plus I'm trying to secure a job with the Salvation Army Kroc Center. I had the final interview Monday and was asked today to schedule a time to fill out the paper work. A very good sign! Hopefully, I'll have all of this finalized by Friday!

Awkward Catholic is going to World Youth Day

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These nuns will let anyone go on a trip with them.

I'm going to Spain tomorrow which means I have no idea if I'll be able to blog until I get back next Friday. (Probably will try to)

But I promise a lot of pictures and videos and stories when I return to Illinois.

Meanwhile you can follow the Awkwardness here. I'll just be in the back ground mostly acting like I know something.

Peace and all good! 

Nunabe Diaries: Coming out of the perverbial nun closet and asking "Now what"?

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Yesterday (Sunday) I told my mom I wanted to be a nun. It was a conversation I wanted to have for three years. Even though I didn't know we would have that conversation at that moment, I kept calm (something I was afraid I wouldn't do). I knew she would drag me through the mud, say hurtful things and I was right. She did say some hurtful things. But I was prepared for that moment.

What I wasn't prepared for was the aftermath.

Neither of my parents are going to disown me. But they completely disapprove of my vocation. Even though it was a difficult conversation I felt relief that I didn't have to hide my vocation. (Gone are the days I hide vocation magazines under my bed- actually that was gone when I completely moved out of the house this May)

I can't help but remember of all of those nights I laid awake at night planning on what I was going to say. And I can now say that this is probably the one time planning during discerning is a good thing.

But one thing I didn't plan was again, the aftermath. I'm not prepared to answer the basic "nun" questions that I've been asked for years. It feel so much more real telling my parents about my beloved community of choice. It's plain scary.

Though sometimes we need a shot of whiskey to wake us up. Or a knock on the head, whichever metaphor you like...

While I'm still very much hurt by what was said (I'm sure they are hurt too) I realized that my vocation is very much "Tonka tough". After the conversation I was questioning whether all this hurt was worth the pain and then I let that question sit for a bit (something I learned while discerning). Then sure enough, the fire came back. The nun thing was still a good idea.