La semana pasada hablé por teléfono con un amigo sacerdote quien también será transferido de parroquia por primera vez.  Después de compartir nuestro entusiasmo y nuestras angustias le dije en broma, “Supongo que vamos a aprender lo que es ser sacerdote en otro lugar por primera vez.” Al prepararme para partir de Sacred Heart en Warner Robins, he estado considerando todas mis experiencias como sacerdote recién ordenado al igual que las muchas lecciones aprendidas, en particular aquellas del sacerdocio.  Varias... Read more

This unique poster was given to me at my farewell celebration at Sacred Heart.  It’s my profile with a labyrinth for its brain, or a labyrinthine mind.  Around it the office staff listed my interests (they identified them well): Collecting Nativities Priesthood Family Travel Writing Humor Friends Photography Singing Pictures are mine, all rights reserved. Read more

Throughout seminary, but especially during the last year, there’s great anticipation towards one’s first parish assignment.  That first assignment will be the setting for countless first experiences which will mark the rest of your life as a priest.  These include joyful and exciting moments, but also trials and difficulties.   My first assignment came officially on the day of ordination, Sacred Heart in Warner Robins.  I had only visited Sacred Heart once before while I was assigned to Saint Joseph... Read more

Silence.  Few yearn for it, most fear it.  It’s difficult to find in modern society where almost every attempt at silence is interrupted by a cell phone.  Many are uncomfortable with silence: always having the ipod playing at the ear or the television babbling. Silence greatly facilitates an encounter with oneself and with God.  Have you ever noticed how when night falls and you get ready for bed, your worries and anxieties often creep up?  As silence falls over your heart, things... Read more

This weekend was my last official weekend at Sacred Heart.  After preaching at all the Masses there was a beautiful and well attended farewell celebration, I hope to post pictures later this week.  The parish staff wrote a song for me to the tune of The Beatles’ Yesterday, the lyrics are below for your enjoyment!  I loved it. Now I’m off to a much needed four day silent retreat, I will keep all you my readers in my prayers, please keep... Read more

This morning at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah, Bishop Hartmayer, OFM, Conv. ordained fifteen men to the permanent diaconate and three to the transitional diaconate.  Among the men were Deacon Tom Deall and Deacon Rom Simons from Sacred Heart, Warner Robins.  Also among the permanent deacons was Deacon Kelley Culver from Augusta who was my ninth grade computer teacher at Aquinas High School.  Above is a picture of Deacon Simons, me and Deacon Deall taken immediately after the... Read more

“You have asked to have your child baptized.  In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him in the practice of the faith.  It will be your duty to bring him up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor.  Do you clearly understand the commitment you are undertaking?” The day you had your child baptized, you heard these words.  The priest or deacon asked you this question, and you answered, “I... Read more

“Ustedes padres que piden el bautismo para su hijo, deben dares cuenta de que contraen la obligación de educarlo en la fe, para que sepa guardar los mandamientos divinos: amar a Dios y a su prójimo, como Cristo nos enseñó.  ¿Aceptan esta obligación? El día que presentaron a sus hijos para el bautismo, escucharon estas palabras.  El sacerdote o diacono les hizo esta misma pregunta y ustedes respondieron, “Si.”  El bautismo es esencial para los recién nacidos ya que a... Read more

If we put into action what we believe, we will recognize Christ in all people.  Jesus instructs us to love one another, to seek the good for one another without counting the cost: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is the task of every Christian, of all the baptized, and in particular the task of the parish priest. The priest, united to Christ, lays down his life out of love... Read more

  I had the honor of witnessing the marriage of one of my best friends from high school.  Below is most of my homily, I omitted personal references.       Whenever you look up at the sky on a clear night and there isn’t a new moon, the beauty of the moon brightly shinning thousands of miles away dominates the sky.  The moon, whether full or just a slim crescent, shines over you, its light piercing the darkness.   Yet,... Read more