November

So, it has once again been a while. I apologize (once again). Seminary life is at times very busy, and, when I get the chance, I sometimes like to sit back and marvel at how quickly it can all creep up on you. My semester is going well. Things at the seminary are likewise going well, though there is a spot of bad news that may interest you. Fr. Buttini, the seminary's long-time front door watchdog, has decided to take a bit of a hiatus. At the age of 94, he has not relocated himself to Atlantic City nor Florida, but rather to a nursing home. Just a few days after Fr. Pavese's funeral, Fr. Buttini took a fall and landed himself in the hospital. Since then, he has been moved to a nursing home, where he is receiving round-the-clock care and is recuperating rather well. It is a cross for him to be living outside of a religious community after 76 years under vows, but he is handling it well.

On a bit of a happier note, the Provincial Superior has received written confirmation that His Eminence, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, former Secretary of State for Vatican City and currently the Dean of the College of Cardinals, will indeed be coming to Pittston, of all places. The celebration is still in its infantile planning stages, but the Cardinal is planning to come for the celebration of the Solemnity of St. Joseph Marello, founder of the Oblates of St. Joseph, which will be held as a joint celebration along with the anniversary of the Congregation's pontifical approval by the Holy See and the opening of what is now known as the Pennsylvania Province. It should be a fun, if frantic, affair.

One might wonder, of course, why Cardinal Sodano is coming here, for our feast. And rightly so. Cardinal Sodano, as I understand it, is a great friend of the Oblates and has been ever since his childhood, in Asti (the city in Piedmont, Italy, where the OSJ were founded), where he attended an Oblate-run school, and had Oblates as teachers.

So, that explains the Sodano connection.

In other news, as extensively reported by Whispers, our local diocesan prelate, Bishop Joseph Martino, has been making headlines and getting made fun and ridiculed seemingly across the entire country. While I do agree with his message, delivery seems to have conjured an effect that was not exactly intended, or so I assume. Perhaps, indeed, any press is good press.

ATTENTION: OPPORTUNITY FOR READER INVOLVEMENT:

I am currently working with a friend who has a bit more radio production experience than I to put together a recurring radio show on WQOR, the local Catholic radio station housed at none other than my very own seminary. As a supplement to the already great material presented on the station, which is mostly drawn form the EWTN satellite, we seem to have agreed to take the show in a "contemporary Catholic culture" sort of direction, with the hope of attracting a younger demographic to the station (and, of course, to the Oblates). It is in this regard that I would like to get some feedback from y'all:

1.) How long a show do you think we should have?
2.) How often should the show air?
3.) What are some suggested topics for discussion on the show?

If any of you are willing to respond to any or all of these questions, your input would be happily welcomed in the planning stages of the new techno-endeavor. Oh, by the way, we would also be putting the recordings up on the old Internets for the non-radio-having population to appreciate. If there are any suggestions that fall outside the realm of my questions three, you can also feel free to send them in. You can add your responses as comments to this post, or in e-mail form, if you like. E-mails you can send to: seminarian.patrick@oblates-stjoseph.com