Time for Some Artwork from some Up & Coming Artists
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

Here are two pieces of art work done by two up and coming artists. Take a look and let me know what you think. If you like either picture and want a copy, you are welcome to download it from this site for a nominal fee of $100 per picture per copy.


"I make a rainbow for Parrain!"
- Blaise Rother

"Untitled"
- Unknown Kindergarten Artists

SPH, in the Diamond they Dominate
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: We are the Champions
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05
SPH CARDINAL BASEBALL & LADY CARDINAL SOFTBALL 2A TAPPS STATE CHAMPIONS!

On May 14, 2005 both SPH ball clubs proved their superior quality as they completed a sweep of state titles from the diamond. The boys started the day that would end with a fire engine ride through town with a 3-0 win over The Woodlands Christian Academy, and the girls capped off the day with an excessively dramatic win over long time rivals Sacred Heart of Hallettsville. (Yep, the very schools that are fifteen minutes apart, reside in the same diocese, and also met in the Volleyball State Finals for the last two years.) Both games ended with much excitement. They baseball game ended when a TWCA batter hit a line drive right down the middle and the SPH sophomore 2nd baseman making the grab. This may sound routine, but it is what happened exactly at the moment the ball was caught, because the shortstop was also running down the ball neither of the two seeing the other one until the last possible moment and the shortstop took a dive but hit the 2nd baseman in the gut flipping him over onto his back next to the bag. The second baseman disentangled his left arm from the two-man pile and was shocked to see that he had held on to the ball during his theme park-like ride. He raised the glove, still in total shock, to show the umpire that the ball remained nestled in his glove like a baby in a carriage.

The softball game went rather uneventful aside from a two-run first inning to put SPH, the defending champions, ahead. Then in the final inning, things seemed to come unraveled for the Cardinals who committed two of their six errors in this inning and allowed three runs to put the Indianettes up 4 – 3. A pitching change helped retire the side of the inning but the damage was done and now the Lady Cardinals (who had beat the Indians both time during the regular season, one of which was a ten-run-ruled game) found themselves as the bottom of a hole from which they had find a way out. Sacred Heart entered the field with huge smiles on their faces seemingly to have fun now. St. Paul was to start the inning at the bottom of their line-up. With the first batter came the first out and brought Sacred Heart two outs away from stealing the title. The second batter just beat the throw to first, and did her patented jump for joy as the umpire signaled her safe. Now the excitement started to build for the Lady Cardinals. They had someone on base, but still had to remain poised so to get the run necessary to send the game into extra innings or the two runs necessary to win it in seven. SPH was now at the top of their line up with their only left-handed batter and quickest runner, a girl who routinely stole her way to third. After a few pitches she slapped one into shallow right field and was off to the races when the leftfielder bobbled and dropped the ball. Both runners were rounding third as the throw was made and triumphantly crossed home as the catcher caught the ball well out of reach of the runners. The sea of red that were previously nervous were now on their feet screaming for they all knew what these two runs meant...the game was over, with the score 5 - 4, and the Lady Cardinals completed the dream of having both the baseball and softball teams on top together.

The fire engine ride was now waiting for both victorious teams back in Shiner and would loudly and proudly sing the praises of the returning champions even if it was at 10:00 pm and the “roads needed to be rolled back out.” Below are pictures of the champions as they returned home.

SS. Cyril & Methodius Confirmation 2005
Mood:  happy
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

Here is the Confirmation class of SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Shiner, TX for the year 2005 confirmed by the Most Reverend David E. Fellhauer today at the 9:30am Mass. My biased personal opinion is that these are the best educated Confirmation class of the area.

Living Stations
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

On a serous note, the Catholic seniors of Shiner, TX prayerfully portrayed the passion of Christ this evening by semi-acting out the stations of the cross. It was very thought provoking for me as I felt like one of the crowd that watched Jesus carry the cross down the roads and up the hill to the place where he was crucified. I was and am very proud of our seniors!

Spring Break
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

This trip was taken a few weeks past. I was hoping to add pictures to it before I posted it, but I have not gotten the pictures from my fellow trip takers. They took the pictures I didn?t?to be explained later.

This past Spring Break I was privileged to accompany two of my buddy seminarians and a Spiritual Director at the Seminary to the white mountains of Colorado. Though the pact was the famous saying, ?What happens (insert where you are located) stays (insert where you are located.? Therefore, what happened on Spring Break, for the greater part, will stay on Spring Break. Not that we did anything that produced skeletons in the closet?or at least big ones?but that I either cannot remember or don?t want to type every single detail down, plus you probably wouldn?t want to read it all. But I digress?

We started on the long trip Friday night, late of course because of me. Once we were on the road you could smell the excitement in the air as Fr. Ivan and Vincent spoke of their skiing expertise and David and I (both rookies) talked a lot of smack?in fun of course, but again I can only speak for myself. After a stop off in Santa Fe, NM where we stayed in one of Vince?s parishioner?s other house for a couple of day, we completed our trip in Keystone, CO, but not before a desire to alter our course for ?Las Vegas? was trampled. Our (mainly David?s and mine) first day on the slopes (bunny that is, small hill, inexperienced skiers, bratty kids skiing circles around these skiers), was spent learning the ropes to hopefully later conquer the greens. We decided to play around on the skis before our class started?BIG MISTAKE?I almost died of exhaustion due to poor form. Once the lessons started the correct form was learned which made everything so much easier. Two two-hour lessons back-to-back, and I did fine until we went to the top of the hill and I did the rookie stop all the way down?falling. No matter how much of a wedge I did, my 300+ pound frame still shot down the hill like a missile without coordinates?a jet at Mach 3 without a joystick...you get my drift. My butt and my legs were so sore that I barely made it to the rental place to return my skis and pick up my shoes. The three block walk back to the lodge was grueling.

With the learning day behind us, we decide to get a little more comfortable with three to four runs down the bunny slope before braving the whole mountain on the greens. The ride up there was pleasant and exciting as I sat in anticipation for the ski down. It was fun until the burn returned to my legs, probably about 15 minutes into the downhill run. This is when I started falling again because I just to have an excuse to sit down?oops I fell again. What pissed me off more than anything were the same bratty kids were skiing circles around me on this hill too and without poles or anything. I wanted to give them one of my poles, but not for their use or comfort. I will let you figure this one out. About half way to three quarters of the way down my legs burned so much I was roasting marshmallows and making s?mores on them. Fr. Ivan realized this and as I sat in the snow wanting to go on but not having the drive nor the strength, he asked the ski patrol to come pick me up and bring me down the mountain. By this time, Vince had done skied down, went back up and skied back down to me. But in hind sight I say who is the sucker, because I got an exhilarating snowmobile ride down the hill (and that?s all it was?and chaste I might add, which is why I can add this part of the story) by a cure little blonde number?grrroooowwwl. I was the envy of the other three guys, I just know it. After one day?s rest, we set out for the 24 hour non-stop trek home from Keystone, CO to Shiner, TX for me and Houston, TX for the other three. I had a blast, as you are suppose to have during Spring Break and no one ended up in the hospital. All in all it was a successful trip.

I hope to add a few pics later.

Nigerian Saying
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

Today I heard a most interesting Nigerian adage:

"The inquisitive monkey gets a bullet in the face."

Upon here this from one of my classmates in the seminary, we all busted out laughing more from the strange sound of the phrase to our ears than the meaning, because we didn't have a clue as to its meaning. Sitting here now, I can't even remember the context in which he used it. Anywho, I just thought I would share this with you...maybe you think it is funny, maybe you don't or maybe you understand its meaning or maybe not...I just offer it for your edification.

"Saw Varsity's horns off!"
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

I just received the picture from the St. Paul Prom when the students and two former students of A&M sawed Varsity's horns off. I thought I would share it with you.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow." ... Not always.
Mood:  sad
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

Where's the sweet? William was full of it. I am talking about the parting of the basketball season. I feel not sweetness about it. I write this blog after an upseting 5 point loss to Trinity Christian in San Antonio. I didn't know that I would take the loss or the end of basketball season this bad, but I have. It is a feeling I don't think can be fully understood until you have coach a whole season, grown close to the team, and truly have faith in the teams potential. Anyway, my sorrow is only for the end of the season. I am very proud of the girls. They played their hearts out all season and did what we asked of them even changing positions mid-season or playing two different positions during the same game depending on the lin-up that was in the game. The girls stepped up to the plate and gave so much to the team. And for all of this, I have nothing but an abundance of pride.

I hope that the teams sticks together. We will an intergral part of the team at point guard to graduation, however the other four starters were sophomores, so we foreseeably have another two years with them. As a matter of fact the whole team minus our one senior point guard was comprised of juniors or below. Next year should be exciting to watch. By this last game different players have stepped forward almost as specialists in different areas: stealing, rebounding, driving to the basket, and defense. We even saw the glimpse of a possible three point specialist our last two games, who shot 3 for 3 from beyond the arc (two of them coming in the playoff loss).

My sadness increases as I realize that I will not be here to watch the girls play next season. But alas my calling to be a priest leads me back to the seminary to complete my formation, though I will do it with a heavy heart.

I will stop here before my eyes become Niagra Falls.

History Repeating Itself, in a Vanilla way.
Mood:  quizzical
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

People always say, "History repeats itself." Though I have seen the truth to this statement, I never would have believed what it to repeat itself as it has. The St. Paul Prom and last night's return trip from Brenham for the girl's and boy's basketball teams are proof. I couldn't believe my ears at the prom when I heard over the DJ's speakers the once popular lyrics, "Ice, Ice, baby, too cold, too cold..." I dismissed it as the DJ merely playing this past hit for nestalgia's sake. But my original thoughts were affirmed when I heard the boys team in the back of the bus rapping the whole song, not missing one word. -- (I should know, because sadly enough I still know the song.) -- As I conversed with a Sophomore on the girl's team about the song, I found out that it had become popular again and so much so that it is NOW HER RING TONE! Who woulda thunk it: Vanilla Ice resurected from his lyrical grave. All I can say to that is, Wow.

I Went to Prom
Mood:  party time!
Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05

I was invited to go to the St. Paul Prom, and no not as a date, but by the Junior Class. And yes, the prom was early this year, with an appropriate them: Madi Gras. I knew this was going to be a different my high school proms when Father Bob asked me to take his Mass kit and his chasuble to the KC Hall where the prom was being held. This prom actually started with a Mass, and then a catered meal by a local caterer who happens to be the school maintenance man. Andy is a jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. Anyway, the dance didn't start until the dinner was over, which by the way was served by the freshman class. Once the music started it was a typical high school dance...no one got up to dance until about an hour into the dj's set. Being the polka town that Shiner is, of course there were a few polkas played among the country, rock, and hip-hop. I don't mean a country song that doubles as a polka song to dance to, but actual bonafide polka songs. I thought I had seen it all when a teacher grabbed Andy the caterer to lead the grand march. Yes I said the grand march, which until then I had only seen at wedding receptions. For those who aren't familiar to what a grand march is; I will explain it briefly. In a nut shell it is a couple's conga line. One couple leads the other couples around the dance floor weaving here and there, then making a bridge all pass under to continue the bridge for the other couples. And at times, the lead couple even splits up to lead their particular gender around the dance floor to meet with their original partner on the other side of the floor. Unless you've been in one, you can't know how much fun they are. I did, however, end up going danceless, unless you count sawing Varsity's horns off dancing. Yes they actually played the Aggie War Hymn and all the future Aggies sang the song, to a degree, with the two Former Students--myself and the spouse of a coach. When the students linked up I couldn't help myself but run up and join them. It was great to see their Aggie spirit. However, being politically sensitive, the dj also played "I've Been Working on the Railroad" for the t-sips that were present. The evening ended up being very enjoyable, even if I was dateless.