Bonovox

Christ is risen!  Indeed, He is risen!

Well, I’ve just finished my first year of seminary.  I don’t have most of my grades back yet, but they should be OK.  There were many points along the road where I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but God is good, and by your prayers I persevered.  Now only two more years to go!

May has turned out to be a somewhat tough month, as Kelly and the kids have been back in Buffalo for the whole month (tending to doctor’s appointments and such as well as catching up with family.).  It wasn’t so bad my last week of classes as I worked sun up to sun down to get my patristics paper done, and of course I took full advantage of the peace and quiet to make the most out of finals week, but now I really miss Kelley and the kids.

I did flee to Western New York after my last final last Tuesday to be with them, but had to return on Friday for Graduation Weekend and this week we are training for our chaplaincy program at the hospital.  (I have to put in 80 hours of chaplaincy by the end of next year, so by getting my training now, I can get a head start on it through the summer.)  But when we are done Thursday, I’ll leave again for home and spen the remaining days of May there till we return to SVS by June 1st.

I am to be ordained to the priesthood this summer.  Those of you who know me or have been following along, know that I did not come to St. Vlad’s seeking ordination.  I was kind of hoping to serve out my days as a deacon, which has been an immense blessing to me.  BUt it seems evident that I should accept this call to the priesthood with all the advantages and trials with which it brings.  The priesthood is not an office to seek, but a crucifixion.  BUt it is only through crucifixion that there is resurrection.  Your prayers are needed for me and my family as we prepare for God’s call in our life.

So the summer will be busy.  We will vacation with the family at the beach in Wilmington, as friends of our will be based there for the summer.  JUne 28 will be the ordination at our diocese’ Parish Life Conference which is being hosted by our parishin Niagara Falls.  I would rather be ordained in our pretty church than in a hotel ballroom, but it will be special with all of our diocese clergy and lay leaders with us.  There are plenty of hotel rooms in Niagara Falls if any want to attend.

In July, as our two oldest attend camp at the Antiochian Village, Kelley and I will will fly to St. Croix for a second honeymoon in the Virgin Islands.  And finally we plan on spending a week at our parish’s family camp, held in the Allegany foothills in New York’s Southern Tier.  Then to start my second year of serminary in late August!

Hopefully I’ll be posting here during the summer….you’ll probably see some of my papers showing up!

Please keep us in your prayers.