Whirlwind Week!

We were so happy to celebrate the final profession of religious vows  of Br. John Luong, OMV this past Friday, and attend his diaconate ordination on Saturday! Both were deep and incredibly beautiful celebrations in the life of the Church and that of our community. We also got to spend good time with some of his immediate family and meet other USA Oblates who traveled in to be with us during this time.

As soon as the dishes were put away, though, we packed our bags for Washington, DC and left promptly Sunday morning (5:30 am and 15ºF) on a long bus ride to where we would stay in Virginia. I became the bus leader, in the absence of one, and upon convening with the leader of the other bus and coordinator of the young adult pilgrimage to the March for Life, I got my real-time briefing of how the trip would go. Needless to say, my trip was a bit more stressful than it would have been, had we had a leader from the outset. But I enjoyed the trip just the same and I am really grateful to the dozen Boston University students and the other young adults who traveled on "my" bus for their patience and flexibility.

I also got to meet up with some Nashville Dominicans at the "Life is VERY Good" Mass, Concert, and Prayer Vigil that we attended Sunday night; it was neat that they recognized me, and we got to listen to Matt Maher perform the song that is the theme song for the Sacred Heart Novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. They have so much life and joy!

Now we are in the swing of the flood of young men who are visiting our seminary this week; many have arrived already and more are on their way. Tonight, we will double our usual community for dinner, and add a few more in the coming days. We invite these men to live with us, pray with us, eat with us, attend classes with us, and learn about religious life, discerning their vocations, and our congregation in particular. Please pray for all of them during their visit.

Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca