News one only hears out of Ireland...

I opened my Hotmail today and one of the news headlines read: "Irish cops bust beer thieves." The first thing that came to mind was "only out of Ireland" so I thought I would share some of the funnier parts...as well as a link to the Full Story.

"The Garda Siochana police force declined to specify how many kegs have been recovered following the Nov. 29 raid, when a lone man drove a truck into the brewery, hitched up a trailer loaded with 450 kegs and drove straight out through the security gate into rush-hour traffic. Guinness called it the biggest robbery in the 248-year history of the brewery."

-not very well planned...running into rush hour traffic (but then maybe they thought they were the Irish version of the Italian Job).

"The stolen trailer was loaded up with 180 kegs of Guinness stout, 180 kegs of brand Budweiser and 90 kegs of Danish brand Carlsberg."

-One wonders why they didn't just stick to taking the good beer?
-talk about a party...why didn't I get an invitation?

Ethan James Heffron

Esther holding her little brother Ethan for the first time (so cute!!!).Daddy and his little boy. My how tiny he is!
Family picture (Esther was a little upset over something).
Uncle Brendan holds Ethan...aww...so precious!
Rocking Baby Ethan while Jassica and James catch some rest.
Things are going great here at Andrews AFB. Thanksgiving dinner turned out wonderfully (I know...a bit of a pat on the back there...but I liked it). Esther loves the new baby and Ethan is such a good little boy...although he keeps his parents up more at night than his bigger sister did. Love you all see you back home soon!

Feast of All Souls

Lux Aeterna luceat eis Domine

cum Sanctis tuis in aeternum

quia pius es. Amen

May the Souls of the Faithful Departed

Through the mercy of God

Rest in Peace. Amen

The Legend of Jack of the Lantern

There once was a young man named Jack. He was a vagabond and a trickster, preferring to trick his way through life and stealing than earning and honest living.

One day, Jack was waiting at the crossroads in the hopes that some unwary travelers would come by asking for directions to the Inn (Jack often did this...offering to guide them through the Irish mists in exchange for some money...and would then lead them down the road into the bogs to their dooms). But this night, instead of a stranger coming down the road, the Devil himself met Jack at the crossroads.

"Jack!;" said the Devil, "I've been a'looking for you...seems your time is up and I've come to take you home for your eternal reward."

"Is that so?" Jack asked, considerably shaken but this revelation. "Well then I guess that I am ready to go...but before I do, could you grant me one last earthly request?"

The devil thought this over for a bit and then said "Well now Jack, seeing as I have enjoyed leading you astray for all these years...I guess one last bit of pleasure wouldn't do me harm. What would you like?"

"I would like that apple...there on the topmost branch of this here apple tree...only I cannot get it since I hurt my leg today;" replied Jack.

So up the tree the devil sprang to get the apple...and quick as a cat Jack carved a big cross on the trunk of the tree so that the Devil could not come back down.

"There now Devil," cried Jack, "Come and take away my spirit now!"
"Curse you!" shouted the Devil from the tree, "let me down and I promise I'll not take your spirit tonight or any night hereafter!"

So, with this promise, Jack cut down the tree and down the devil came with it, leaving Jack safe and alive. Yet, all living things must die, and Jack did eventually as well...only he was not allowed in heaven because of his wicked life...nor would the Devil allow him onto Hell...on account of his promise. So now Jack wonders the world with just a little lantern to guide him in the night...hoping to find some place to stay for the night. But he can't even find hospitality on earth...out of fear that he may be up to his old tricks, people carved out turnips and pumpkins with frightening faces to remind him of his evil deeds...thus keeping away Jack O'Lantern.

Happy New Year!...?

Samhain (pronounced "sow-en") is the ancient Celtic celebration of the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Each year, according to Celtic Mythology, a new sun god (male) was born of the goddess of the earth each spring. During the year he grew old until he dies in the late autumn with the darkening of the year, but not before he has taken earth as his bride and left her with a new son god to be born in the spring. so the end of the year is also the beginning.

However, with the death of the sun god, the souls of the wicked creatures and the dead all run wild on this night. In order to confuse the spirits and keep them from harming the living, the Celtic people devised many "tricks" that are still used to this day (although not for the original intended purpose). Bonfires are still a traditional part of Halloween (Samhain) which were thought to chase away the evil spirits who would think that it was the sun god still living.

Another method of tricking the creatures, was to disguise yourself as one of them so that they would mistake you for one of their own and leave you be. Part of this was that many families would invite the spirits in for a feast, the food would distract them long enough for the living to done costumes...and lead the spirits from the house dancing their way out in the wilderness, away from the homes of the living. But for the timid spirits, just a scary face would do to frighten them away!

Happy Halloween!

Riverdance goes Bananas!

See? Even Monkeys know what good music is!

Catechism Class

Today I taught my third Catechism class at St. Patrick's. Every Sunday morning my sister Maura and I teach Catechism to the most fantastic group of little third graders. The first class was a bit hard for me. I have been in college education for so long that I have sort of forgotten how little children learn and think. Now that I am on my third time though, we are having so much fun...and I actually think that I might be teaching them something! It's so much fun to see their smiling bright young faces get all lit up when they answer a questions correctly or do something pleasing. I love how they call me "Mr. Heffron." I am still getting a handle on maintaining order and discipline while keeping things fun and lively for them (especially since I have mostly little boys...and they tend to be a bit of a rambunctious crowd). Its a bit of work...but I am getting used to preparing lessons and it will be a good experience for me should I return to Seminary or continue as a teacher. I don't think that third graders are where I am best suited as a teacher, but its not like I can't do it. I love all my little students...we are going to have a great year!

Autumnal Wonders

This is Strotheide Road looking West in front of my house.
An old tree in the woods that I thought had interesting branches.
This is my house from the woods across the pond (the second story window is my room).
Another view of Strotheide looking west just past my house.
Love the contrast in this photo!

Still Searching...

It is my firm belief that nobody likes a depressing post (and if you do I think that you should be studied). This is, perhaps, one of the chief reasons that I have not posted much of late. All my news seems to be bound up in looking for a job...and all my creativity too for that matter. It is amazing how draining it can be to the cognitive faculties to do nothing more than writing down my name, address information and work experience on daily applications!

However...never fear my friends! Happier days are coming to the Bubble soon (I HOPE!!!) as my Aunt Janice (thank you), and Aunt Sheila have both joined the ranks of people looking for suitable employment for me. As well as mine own efforts...I think that somewhere something is bound to turn up!

Also...I do have a few posts bouncing around the ol' noggin...they should find there way out sometime soon...and I think I will buy a new camera cable for the digital camera at home (ours seems to have run off someplace) so at least I can keep you all posted with some pictures (fallback entertainment...a.k.a. "filler" for an otherwise intellectually and comically stagnant Bubble)

The Big Scoop from a Small Town

...or village more like...

Smyrna, Michigan, home to nothing special really, just a few quiet village type peoples. One thing that they do have is a nice quaint little general grocery store. The Smyrna Grocery, among the regular party store type offerings, this particular store has a nice little ice cream shoppe in one corner. Knowing this, and it being a hot day, I decided to take my little brother out to get some ice cream. Little did we know what was in store for us...

We ordered two small size cones (as I did not want to spend much, and just wanted a little taste) and the girl began to scope out the luscious cream (I got chocolate)...one...two...THREE!!! scoops. As she handed it to me my brothers eyes nearly popped out of his head at the size of the thing! I myself was rather flabbergasted...it was a leaning tower of ice cream literally overflowing from the dinky little Joy cup cone! And of course it begins to melt like crazy in the heat...we had to eat the cones outside on the front steps of the grocery so that all the town could see us trying to keep the cascades of sweet cream from dripping all over us.

Needless to say we did not quite manage to get out of this affair with our dignity, although my brother (who is ten) fared better due to his age. I cannot remember the last time I have made such a mess eating a cone...Chocolate all over my face, both hands and three little streams that dried on the way down to my elbow! Just soooo happy that nobody I knew came by while I was pigging my way through the cone.

...on a side note...the Ice Cream was really good...just next time I think I will get a bowl!

A Rather Dry Summer

This summer has been a most eventful one for me. Despite the lack of activity apparent from the contents of this blog (none within the past several weeks) I have actually been doing a lot of things, just nothing interesting nor wholly worthwhile to report. That being said, I thought that I should give a little recap of what I have been up to for those interested parties who have not heard from me for a while.

After four years of college and a year of seminary studies and two months in Mexico, I decided that it was high time for me to take a little break from it all. It's difficult to devote almost your entire life to one thing for so long, and yet have the goal still further off. This past year really drained me, but it also showed me that I need some growing up to do. A lot of the guys at the seminary had a few years on their own, working, and living on their own. I call this "living life" or "real life experience." Because I went right from the extreme shelter of home-schooling to four years in small Catholic Colleges and then the seminary, I have not fully (at least to my satisfaction) experienced life to the degree that I feel a candidate for priesthood should. I do not want to be a young priest, who while having all the education possible, lacks any idea of how to live on his own, take care of himself and the day to day cares of 90% of the Catholic population. So this is why I have left seminary formation for the time being (don't worry...I plan to go back someday); to get in touch with the day to day life of normal people and to live a few experiences that my sheltered life has not enabled me to encounter.

So I am now looking for employment, which hopefully pays well and is a job that I like. I have already submitted several application to a variety of places, but have yet to receive any word back. It is already strange not to be back in school this year...after almost 18 years of going to school in the fall...one feels almost like a fish out of water, and more than a little old.

Now you know what I have been up to. I have not been idle, but already I am happy that I made the decision that I did. While it is tough getting over this initially, I believe that I will reap abundant reward from following the will of Christ for my life. So even though the summer has been so dry...there is yet a bit of dew in the mornings!

Summer Woes

Summer posting will be sparse (at least that is what the weather man said). I don't use the internet too much in the summer due to the inconvenience of it and the little time that I can spend on it. I also have a lot more cares during the summer that call me away from thinking of silly little nothings to post here...so until further notice, the "Bubble" will be on summer vacation with no (or little if any) posts. Hope you all have a great summer. I will miss you and the "Bubble" will too...it gets lonely in the here sometimes.

In Honor of my Fore-Fathers

My Fore-Fathers

Now sit you down,

and I'll tell ye,

what you should know

'bout your ancestry.

We start with James,

In Eire 'twas born.

In place of his sons,

fought in Civil War.

William his son,

with wagon did hurry,

to bring back his father,

in Parnell for to bury.

Thomas is next,

gentle and kind,

helped out his neighbours

when help they couldn't find.

Clayton was known

for miles around,

for in village and dale,

his blarney'd abound!

Then there is Tim,

true to his kin,

for God and his fam'ly's

ever dearest to him.

Now mind you well,

now that you know,

to honor their mem'ry,

for you reap what they sowed!

-Brendan Heffron,

12, June, 2007

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand He's Back!

I cannot tell you how glad I am to be back State-side (American States that is...)! It seems an eternity since I left...that's what total immersion in a foreign country does to you...and Mexico is sooooo foreign. They seem to take pride in taking the word "foreign" to a whole new level of meaning. Anyway...I can't wait to see my friends again...and yes...Facebook will be back up again soon!

Beuna Suerte me Amigos!!!

¡Poco, Pico y Picante!

Bugs. I just can't seem to stay away from them...or rather, they from me. Since arriving in Cuernavaca, Mexico, I have been waking up every morning with at least one new bit (pico in español). I have gone over me room I don't know how many times trying to find the culprit(s) but to no avail! I just keep getting bitten by the bugs down here (who seem to have a fondness for my blood as nobody else is getting bitten) and on top of that...I seem to be allergic to them to! The bits swell up like no other!

Moving on...but still on the subject of bugs...you will have no idea what they served us to eat at the school the other day. Yep...you guessed it...bugs! They were explaining to us some of the foods of Mexico. Among the many itemes that most of us are familiar with, maiz, chiles, mangos, etc...there...in the middle of the table in a glass jar sat a bunch of live bugs (looked similar to really fat stink bugs....the best I can do for visuals...but smelled something like ladybugs). I, of course, refused to eat even one, but a bunch of the other guys (some just to prove that they were a man...what is up with that?) had at least one. Taste was described as akin to Redhots candy. For one of us though...it was not to be the most interesting food expierience of his day...

One of the seminarians...for some stupid idiotic reason...decided that he would just pop a habañero pepper into his mouth. At first he was okay...but then he was not, it took forever to cool down his mouth with milk, fruit, and finally a trip to the ice cream store. His mouth was so red afterwards...it was hard not to laugh at his pain because of his stupid machismo! Anyway...he pulled through alright, but this morning he said that all night his stomach gave him hell...as well we all knew it would!

Well...its still hot down here my friends. I miss you all sooooo much, and cannot wait to see you all again...in three weeks. Love you all...from...

Tu hermano en Jesuchristo!

Mi Primera Semana en México

My first week in Mexico I stayed at the minor seminary of the Archdiocese of Tlanlapantla. The seminarians (high schoolers) were very friendly and it was a bit of a challenge trying to communicate with them with only halting Spanish on my part and little to no English on theirs. Still, we had a good time, and made some friends.

The day after our arrival (Thursday) we went to the Anthropological Museum in Mexico City. Many interesting things there...but I have to say a lot of it was frightening, all sorts of Aztec artifacts, all having to do with human sacrifice...and lots of it at that! It was very weird to think that the things that I was touching and seeing right in front of me, ran with human blood just six hundred years earlier.

On Friday the we all travelled to the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan. We climbed to the top of the Temple of the Sun following in the footsteps of priests who climbed the step incline of the pyramid centuries before us. The view was awesome and the place was truly amazing! Never before have I been in a place so completely ancient...and I did it without even leaving the continent!

The ride to the pyramids was a bit of an adventure though...traffic in Mexico City is just plain crazy. There is next to no order on the streets and they are flooded with cars, buses, motercycles and pedestrians. Many time there seemed to be only a few inches between the side of our bus and the the vehicle next to us...not something that makes you feel very comfortable. Well on the way to the Pyramids our bus bumped (nothing serious) with another vehicle...basically just scraped the side a bit. We were stuck while they sorted out the affair for about an hour before another bus was called to take us the rest of the way to the Pyramids. This bus was not as professional as our previous charter bus...as was proved but the bus driver pulling over at a certain point and dropping off some old tires before continuing on our way...goes without saying that this was a huge reminder to us that we were not in the U.S.A. anymore!

The Next day we went to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The place is absolutely awesome and the devotion that is still given to the Virgin is astounding. The Mexican people have a great gift in this holy place, and I felt so priveledged to be able to visit the place that she appeared and see the Tilma with her image imprinted upon it with mine own eyes. The Tilma was very beautiful, even after all these years, and it was very moving being so close to something so holy.

Needless to say this is a very quick rundown of some of my expieriences in the past few days...but I don´t want to spoil the story telling when I get back...since I get more enjoyment out of telling a story over a few beers with you in person than via the internet. Keep me in your prayers...it is a little hard being in a place that you don´t understand the custumes and the language that well...but I am doing well, so don´t worry about anything! The keyboard is a little weird and everything (including spell check) is in Spanish, so if things don´t look quite right, it is due to the limitations of my understanding. I love you all and miss you all very much...or as they say in Espaniole, te qiero mucho!

Buenas Noches me amigos!

Reverse Migration

I have meet many Mexicans in my life. They have come as long as I can remember to help out on the farms up here in Michigan. But I guess that I have always been on the receiving side of Hispanic culture...them coming to us. Now I am going down to learn about them and their language at their home. A reversal of the usual migration pattern that I have grown accustomed to.

Now for all of you who have long been demanding that I let you know what is/will be going on...I give you the Itinerary of the next two months!

• May 2, 9am I depart for Mexico from Detroit Airport
• May 2-6 I will be visiting the Mexico City and learning about their history and culture.
• May 6-June 15 I will be in Cuernavaca learning Spanish and living with my Mexican family (Justino and Costanza)
• June 16-24 I will be doing door to door evangelization (or something like that) in some Hispanic communities in Detroit or Flint Michigan.
• June 24 2006...I am finished for the summer
• June 24-July 4 I have completely free and will be packing up my possessions at school and will hopefully be seeing a lot of my friends in the Ann Arbor area before heading back home.

Hopefully I will be able to post to the Bubble while in Mexico...so stay tuned (and pray for this Gringo!)

Hangin' Loose...

Graduation or Commencement, whatever term you prefer, at Sacred Heart Seminary is over as of Saturday. My family came out to see me get an Alumnus Certificate, which does not mean all that much academically speaking, but which meant that I was able to wear my Ave Maria Colors for the first time (SO PROUD OF OUR ALMA MATER...as painful as some of the time was). Funny how every time I "graduate" though I basically am served blanks...well at least a consolation now is that I am going to accredited institutions now.

Speaking of Accredited Institutions...the Graduation ceremony at Sacred Heart was so painless!!! "practice" took all of a half hour (instead of an insanely heated and intense 3 hours or so) and then Graduation itself went without a hitch and was beautiful to boot! It was great to be there to see Thom graduate with his Masters! Although his Masters sleeves makes him look a little "witchy."

Since then I have been hanging out with Thom Peters at various locations around Ann Arbor-Saline. Great to just sit back and relax, and rest up for the next big adventure in my life...MEXICO! Details on Mexico will be coming soon...

Medication, Procrastination, and Education

I should be writing a paper right now, but as it is, I have absolutely no interest in the subject nor desire to finish the paper. On top of this, is that the paper is due...and I quote, on "Wednesday, April, 23." Not only, as I have just discovered, is April 23rd a Monday but there is no mention of a time...which I must conclude means that it is due by 11:59 tomorrow...so I still have time right?

In other news, I have discovered these really cool Tylenol (Extra Strength...read "for Students") caplets. And when I say "cool" I mean it literally. It is a new kind that has been coated with something resembling a breath mint. Once you swallow the pill, your mouth has a minty freshness to it...rather than the icky taste of medicine if you leave it in your mouth too long. The problem is that I find myself liking to take medication now...but rest assured...I do have a headache and needed to take it tonight!

Ah, well, just one more day and I am all finished with this year of education. Wednesday (at approximately 9pm) will see me freed once again of another year's worth of academic slavery!

Farewell to the Heart

The past year has been one of many joys and sorrows. It has seen me leaving my beloved Ave Maria College community and joining the fast growing ranks of Catholic Seminarians. I studied my first year at the come now bursting at the seams Sacred Heart Major Seminary and after a Spanish language trip to Mexico with SHMS, I will find myself joining the rest of my diocesan brothers at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois.

I have one more week to spend at the Heart (as it is often called) and although it took me a while to get used to, and learn to like, the place (it is Detroit and I am from the country after all) I have grown accustomed to the place. I will miss her, as well as all the wonderful seminarians currently attending this hallowed institution. I have great hope for the future of the Church in Detroit as well as the rest of Michigan, having had but a small sample of the future leaders of Detroit and many of the Dioceses of Michigan. The local Church here in Michigan is on the verge of a new and great springtime, just as Pope John Paul the Great (of blessed and holy memory) predicted of the entire Church.

The prayers of the faithful are paying off! Keep up the prayers and know that they are being put to good use...for those of you in the pews, you will be experiencing this in about five-ten years! Keep your chins up! The Reign of Terror is Ended!

Glücklicher Geburtstag Papst Benedict!

...or as we like to say in English...Happy Birthday Pope Benedict!!!

80 years old today...Long Live the Pope! Viva il Papa!

Raboni!

Happy Easter!

I took a bit of a break during Holy Week...not a break in the strict sense since I was very busy...but rather a break from the Internet (or exile?). I have come to the point of such extreme frustration with the dial-up connection that is the only means of Internet access at home, that I have thrown in the towel all together this time and declared war on dial-up. I think that our relationship, while never very good, has been permanently severed, for it refuses to please me and I refuse to honor it by deigning to use its sluggish transmissions.

Thanks be to the Catholic way of doing things however, as I am able to say 'Happy Easter!' to all of you on Easter day...all week long! Christus Ressurexit (Tá Críost éirithe!)! So despite it being 'Easter Tuesday' it is still (Liturgically) Easter Day...I love how that works.

Anyway...just so you all know in case you were wondering. I had a wonderfully blessed Holy Week/Triduum/Easter, and although physically draining, it was also spiritually and emotionally uplifting! I hope and pray that you all had a similar experience this Easter.

I was able to meet with some of you on Easter Monday, but for all the others who I did not have the opportunity to see personally over Easter, know that I missed you and can't wait to see you again soon. God Bless you all!

Some Irish Humour!

Tonight I did a wee bit o' humor for the fella's at the Seminary. The event is called 'Coffeehouse' and is basically a talent show with free coffee (I am still feeling the effects!). I performed a few Irish jokes for the crowd, which was well received...much to my pleasure, and of course, once you stroke a performer's ego...the show only gets better. So in the spirit o' the ev'nin' I thought I would share with you a wee bit of humor (these are not the ones that I told tonight...since those are better performed than written). Enjoy!

Old widow McGee walked into the bank to exchange $100.00.

She says to the clerk, "Could you break this down into smaller bills for me?"

The clerk says; "In what demonination would you like your bills?"

To which widow McGee responds; "God bless us, has it come to that? I'll have nothin' but Catholics if you don't mind!"

This is one from Joe...
Mike Mulligan woke up one morning with an huge hangover. Forcing himself to open his eyes, he sees a couple of aspirins and a glass of water on the bedside table. He sits up in bed and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and ironed. He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotless. He takes the aspirins and sees a note on the table which says
"Breakfast is on the stove, dear. I left early to go shopping. Love you!" He goes to the kitchen and sure enough, there's a hot breakfast waiting for him, and also the morning newspaper. His son is sitting at the table, eating.
Really curious by now, Mike asks, "Son, what happened last night?"
His son says, "Well, Mam said you came home after 3 a.m, you stumbled in the door, threw up in the hallway, and passed out half-way up the stairs."
Confused, Mike asks, "So, why is everything in order and so clean, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me?"
His son replies, "Oh, that! Mam dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your trousers off, you yelled "Leave me alone woman, I'm a married man!""

Says Mrs. O'Keefe; "If you were my husband I would poison your tea!"
Says Mr. O'Keefe; "Madame if I was your husband, I would drink it!"

Crazy Medievals!

In preparation for Easter, the Choirmaster at my parish sent me the text of a 12th century trope in the hopes that I could translate it for him. Like usual, I accepted before I had adequately accessed the amount of work this would be! What looked like a normal straight up translation has turned into a nightmare hodge-podge of misspelled Latin words, hybrid Greek/Latin and French/Latin words (at least I think that is what it was...), adjectives and adverbs galore and just a mess of poor grammar and syntax! Now I am not an expert, and I am sure that is part of the frustration...but whoever wrote this should have been shot!

Give me Julius Caesar please!

Sunset on the Horizon

Well folks, it looks like it is "Good-bye" to Sacred Heart in Detroit and "Hello" to Mundelein Seminary in Chicago (Mundelein, IL). The Vocation Director from my Diocese (Grand Rapids) came out for his semester visit here in Detroit and gave me the news today. I cannot say that the news was unexpected, or that the news is entirely unwelcome, I will however still be a little sad to leave here. As much as I dislike Detroit, I have grown used to it and can begin to find a little appreciation for her haggard appearance and struggling form. There is great tenacity here among the people and the Seminarians who will be ministering to the people of this Diocese. My heart goes out to those who I leave behind, but I look forward to my new adventure this fall on the other side of the pond. I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I fill out yet another application form and endure orientation (hopefully for the last time!) again in the fall.

St. Patrick's Day

Tis the blessed day of the dear Patrick, Saint of all the Irish. I hope that you all will toast his blessed memory and that you are all proudly a wearin' the green!

Irish Music Guide

As some of you may well know, I have a fairly extensive collection of Irish and Celtic music. Since this month of March is particularly dear to the Irish at home or abroad, I thought that I would just post a tribute to the many sounds of Ireland that I have enjoyed over the years, enjoy the photo fest, and know that all of the CD's featured come highly recommended by yours truly. First...The best of the traditional Irish bands, and the ones who pushed traditional Irish music into the mainstream...The Chieftains!
A tribute to one of Ireland's greatest composers and the last wondering bard of Ireland
Haunting choral music done in a style reminiscent of Ireland's past with a modern appeal

Traditional tunes and airs!

Get your dance on!
Speaking of Dancing! Not quite pure tradition here...but awesome non-the-less (oh and just in case some of you want to see the show...it is coming to Grand Rapids this June I heard...)
Something a little more haunting and modern...but clearly inspired by Irish music!
Enya needs no introduction!
And last but not least...about as mainstream as it gets...albeit not your traditional Irish fare. Still...great band!

Four more days!!!

Return from Exile

Spring Break is over...tear...flick!

In one sense, I am relieved...its hard picking up in the middle of family life again. I have been away for so long that so much has changed, the life of the family as I knew it has changed to much. Many things remain the same...its the little things. Like the cooking spoons and the new place for the pots, or where the toilet paper is kept. My family seems to be permanently in a state of flux...while everything remains the same, nothing is ever exactly as I left it the time before. It is also nice to get back to the post turn-of-the-millennium society having been banished to the post "turn-of-the-century" culture on the farm (i.e. I did not have Internet).

But now it is back to the grindstone of seminary life...studying and constantly working on oneself in order to allow the Spirit to create a new person in me everyday. I also miss my family and my community. Everything about home is so dear to my heart, the people, the land, the history, the culture, it all calls out to me every time I leave and forever I hear the soft call to return. I cannot wait until I am ordained (God help me!) so that I can settle down in a parish and can remain at home. No rest for the weary traveler pursuing knowledge!

Je Suis Libre!

Spring Break has come for me! This means that in a few short hours I shall be departing for Tír na nÓg (the land of the blessed in Irish Folklore...i.e. Grand Rapids). This Spring Break started off in style! Currently listening to U2 (began with It's a Beautiful Day) but before that I was jigging to some good ol' Irish tunes...after returning from the "source and summit of the day" (i.e. The Mass). I have been told that home (the Frozen North) resembles Narnia a bit...due to an interesting mix of a Snow/lightning/rain storm that is now all frozen solid. Soon I will be seeing the most beautiful view in the world...My face toward West Michigan and South-East Michigan in my rear-view mirror!

Happy Spring Break to all my fellow Scholars (and Monica)!

I just had to say...

Sometimes I think that I post too much and scare people with too much information...

...Anyway its the second to last day of the shortest month of the year and I have already filled this month to the max with posts...either I have way too much to say, overactive desire to publish nonsense, or I am just really bored with my barely full time academic work load...all three?

Or maybe I am compensating for American Papist who seems to be suffering from Thesisitis.

Seminarian Perks

There are some very nice advantages to being a seminarian. One of which I received today in the form of a large care package full of all sorts of interesting goodies! When you have a roughly 100 parishes in eleven counties who are all doing their best to show their support for 13 seminarians...your bound to get some nice stuff out of it. Seminary life is not all rosy...but this is definitely the gilded edging. So far I have received two such care packages which included (among other things):

• Hot Chocolate mix
• Frito Lay Chips, Planters Peanuts and a large bag of Trail Mix
• Some "fun size" candy bars (to fatten us up)
• Dial soap (am I dirty?)
• A large brown paisley (ugly) colored box of Kleenex
• Many pens
• A pad of Paper and envelopes (along with the stamps for easy correspondence)
• Some dress socks (argyle too...lol...now I can look old!)
• Toothpaste (I didn't think that my teeth in my seminarian picture were that yellow)

The thing I like receiving most from back home, however, is the warm support offered in the form of brightly colored construction paper and the fun messages that little children think to put on paper. Here is a little 'illustration' of what I mean:

• "Dear Brendan Heffron, I hope that you get the chance to be a priest" (giving it my best shot Gabriel!)
• "We nou that becoming a priest isn't easy" (I made it easier for you to read by putting in spaces)
• "I hope when you become a preist you will have fun doing it!!!!! (I do too...and yes, all the exclamation points are originals)
• "I love God too. We pray to you every day." (Dear Lord I hope not!!!)
• "~~~~~~~~~~~~" (I think it was supposed to be cursive...seven lines of different colored squiggles!)
• "How is the life of a priest? Should I be a priest?" (Aha! Potential vocation alert!!!)
• "Do you know what Church you will go to?" (A Catholic one!)
• The above also had a nice self portrait of the author, who goes by Zach...potential church artist???
• "I hope you are a good priest and you come to our church." (workin' on that...)
• "I will be praying for you. One reason is that people like you are getting rare." (I think Nick may be getting the vocations poster mixed up with the Endangered Species list)
• "Is it hard to turn into a priest?" (Well I will have to see Harry Potter about that one...)

In all seriousness...I love these notes by the youngest members of what will become my future flock and I wanted to share that with you, my few dear readers. God Bless us all!GRAND RAPIDS ROCKS!!!

Arpnelptay seplnlig is not a big dael!

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Church Bloopers...

They're Back! Church Bulletins: Thank God for the wonderful church ladies who type them. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

• The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
• The sermon this morning: " Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus ."
• Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
• Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
• The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
• Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.
• Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
• Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
• For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
• Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
• The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."
• Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
• A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
• At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.
• Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
• Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be cycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
• Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
• The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment And gracious hostility.
• Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
• The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
• This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
• Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.
• The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
• Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
• The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare 's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
• Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
• The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours"

Why Catholics Rock

The world has often lampooned the medieval browbeating of lent by Catholics. In a culture that is concerned only with giving people a false sense of "touchy-feely" happiness by not defining right from wrong and the political correctness of relativism and over the top self affirmation, what is lost is a worthy sense of personal shame and repentance. The Church, in her wisdom, knows that our human nature needs to feel shame for the wrongs that we have done every now and then. This not only helps us feel better about ourselves, because we admit our missteps and accept them as they are, but also acts a catalyst for improving ourselves.

If a person never bothers to reflect upon the wounds that have pierced their life through their own weakness...what you get is a person of utter and complete apathy. Every person knows that they have done wrong things, but if this is not reflected upon, it will fester in the back of the mind and make the person very unhappy. This is why Catholics should rejoice in the blessing of this season of lent. It is a time for us to examine ourselves, reconcile ourselves with God and come to peace with ourselves by correcting our personal faults and shortcomings. Lent it not so much about pain, suffering and making ourselves feel like worms, as much as it is a time to remind ourselves of our own frailty so that we can renew our life with Christ.

E Mare Libertas

The strange things that one does find after spending too much time on the Internet! Not long ago I came across something that I found both interesting and totally laughable. It was an article on the Principality of Sealand. A micronation (a self-declared but unrecognised state-like entity) lying in the international waters of the North Sea just off the Dover coast of England. The "nation" has issued its own currency, postage stamps, and passports (which are no longer recognized due to the fact that they were the county's major export). The country is ruled by Prince Roy I (no second yet...) and is a constitutional monarchy.

So why have you never heard of this interesting nation? Well for starters, it has a permanent population of about ten (largely consisting of the Royal Family) and has only been in existence since 1967. The land mass of the country is entirely underwater, with the only habitable part of the country being a platform rising out of the Atlantic on two large pillars or towers. The total area of the country is 550 meters squared!

Talk about delusions of grandeur...if you want to read more...and it's a pretty hilarious read...just follow the link !

The (Un)Dixie Chicks

Many of you know (and have voiced your disgust) that I am a country music fan. Well the biggest story from the Grammys this year is the Dixie Chicks. according to ABC News:

"The band's wry single "Not Ready to Make Nice" won the award for best song...The Dixie Chicks also won record of the year, song of the year and album of the year, in addition to best country album and country performance by a duo or group with vocal."

This is all over the news because the media is spinning it as the Dixie Chicks making a come-back after their infamous statement at a London concert in 2003;

"We're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

This comment sent off a loud cry amid country fans, resulting in the Nashville Country Music Awards banning the band from their awards this year. The fan base of the Chicks were mostly country folks, farmers and the like, from the Midwest and the South...basically the "Red" states. So its obvious that they would be ostracized for their comments...but what made it worse was that they did not say what they did in the United States (even though they are called "brave") but in a foreign European country (Great Britain). That does not take guts...cause why would they care...all it is is passive aggressive slight on out Chief of State in front of our allies.

What I find interesting about all this, is that many people now love the Chicks...people who never would have liked or listened to their music before their comments. The people who are real fans of their music, however, wish not to support them because they have a world view that runs contrary to good ol' fashioned American ideals. These new "fans" don't care about their music...just what they did. This new "Grammy Award Winning Album" has not sold as much as their previous albums...in fact far below the margin...and this is called a "comeback" and a "validation" of the band in the eyes of the American public?

This is just a shift in their fan base, and after this angry album, the band will have ridden the political wave of their appeal, and not needed anymore will sink into oblivion. This whole thing is not about free speech, but rather is a question as to what is traitorous action as public figures representing the core of American beliefs on foreign soil during a war. People need to relearn the distinction between speaking their mind on American soil and on foreign soil, and that as Americans they should honor and respect the Office of President and the virtues of their country. If they can't do that, then leave!

Hope Springs Eternal

This weekend I traveled down that all too familiar pathway taking me home to my kith and kin. My parents just got back from a vacation to the Eternal City...so they had much to share and I was very eager to listen. I thought it was pretty cool that I have taught myself enough about the Roman Churches that I was able to identify every church that they took pictures off...lol! Needless to say it makes you look smart in front of the parental units...which is always a plus.

Catching up on the news is a necessary part of coming home. Engagements, pregnancy announcements, death announcements, and birth announcements...are all very necessary. The small insignificant news of country life is laid out in full...as well as what is going on at the parish. Good News! The Catholic grade school at my parish is actually trying to live up to its name. The students are now being taught Latin and Gregorian Chant for the first time in...good Lord knows how long! But its so cool! I am happy that they are getting a rudimentary education in Latin...so important!

Spring is on the way friends! I of course mean that figuratively! The snow did not cease falling during my stay at home (it was light...nothing like Upstate New York) and we are expecting a snow storm to come along soon!

Oh...I ran into Magistra (Dr. Izzo) today! She was visiting with Dr. Wright...and she is doing well! Amo Magistra!

Well...this is what it said...

You Belong in San Francisco

You crave an eclectic, urban environment. You're half California, half NYC.You're open minded, tolerant, and secretly think you're the best.People may dismiss you as a hippie, but you're also progressive, interesting, and rich!

Where Does Your Inner Californian Belong?

Snow, Snow, Snow!!!

So...Here is a little photo montage of why I miss home so much (other than family, etc., of course)! Tonight there is a big snow storm/blizzerd happening at home and I am in lovely, warm, dull, boring SW Michigan...grrr. Oh well...hopefully when I get to go home next week the snow should still be there and I can take some pictures to share with you all!
This week's forecast (otherwise known as what happens when cold air moves over Lake Michigan and then passes over Grand Rapids way)

Notice the darker area known as Grand Rapids...and how it sort of fades as it comes over Detroit way