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.

Walking on Water

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I'm going to safely assume that it's hot where ever you are. So to help cool things down I though I would post a Gospel mediation that I wrote when I was a sophomore in College. For your listening pleasure I provided a video of ocean sounds to make it more realistic. (just a little warning, it may play a commerical in the beginning) So turn up the volume and take some time out to chill with Jesus.

Image you are Peter the apostle, you have been fishing all day. You are tired. So you take a break and enjoy the scene around you. It’s a beautiful day.  The water is a prefect blue. So calm. You look around at this magnificent scene.

Then your eyes rest upon Jesus. He is out in the middle of the sea. Just standing there. He tells you to come to Him. You step out of the boat and began to walk on water.

But this time you do not lose faith.

The water feels so cool against your tired feet. It soothes all the soars which have accumulated that day. Your eyes are totally on Jesus And for the first time in your life you know exactly what Jesus wants from you; He wants you to walk on water to Him. To be with Him. To do something miraculous yet so simple. Just walk to him on water.

You are at peace, the breeze cools you down. The water so soothing. Yes you change this story, you don’t lose faith instead you walk to Jesus. He greets you with a hug. And says “look my child look around you.” You began to notice all the birds in the air and fish in the sea. Everything becomes so clear. You are not confused anymore. You have found your place. Right by Jesus Christ, your savior. Now take a moment of silence to image this very scene describe to you. Image what you would do, or say.   After taking this all in, Jesus leads you back to the boat. Then back to shore.

So if you feel like you're drowning, losing faith just remember to W .O. W. Walk On Water. Like that little three letter. It maybe simple but it says A LOT. Just like following Jesus can be. He makes the most miraculous yet difficult task seem so simple.  So I’ll leave you with this quote by St. Katharine Drexel. “God wants saints. That is why we are here. It is great thing to realize that in order to be saints we have only to be what God made us to be."

Catholic Life and Thought: Dancing

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Last weekend a friend invited me to an event he helped organize called "Praise Jam". It's where local Christian artists sang and danced to Christian music. I was asked to sit at a booth and give out information for a high school retreat I used to be involved in.
When I arrived about half way through, the "praising" was going strong.
The other churches had a huge turn out- the Catholics...not so much.

(Though in their defense there was a huge benefit auction at the Knights of Columbus Hall at the same time- with alcohol and air conditioning.)
Many people were standing in the hot sun raising their hands, eyes closed...in praise. I was truly amazed.
I was so amazed I just sat there feeling bad that I didn't have the nerve to get out there and do the same thing. It was like something glued me to my chair. It reminded me of what a very wise priest once told us about Catholics...

We are the frozen chosen.

As I sat there I reflected on why this was. I mean, I have been to many praise and worship services and have danced right along. Every time "Waves of Mercy" or "Days of Elijah" or "Trading my Sorrows" started to play I was the first one doing the dance moves...

Then it hit me...

Those dances were choreographed.

Of course I wasn't out there dancing with everyone at the "Praise Jam". Their songs didn't have dance moves! They free styled.

...Something this Catholic doesn't do unless she has alcohol in her. (And even with alcohol all I can do is clap and move my hips slightly...sometimes even to the beat!)

We Catholics need choreography! We need our dance movements to mean something. Just look at the Mass...there are concrete reasons why we sit, stand, make the sign of the cross, shake hands and kneel.

Of course, some of our "moves" are being changed this Advent. And you better believe this Awkward Catholic is geeked about the almost certain awkwardness.