Note: I attended Mt. St. Mary’s College, now University, graduating in 1982. There is a highly respected seminary located at the college, considered to be one of the most conservative seminaries in the Country, meaning that it stays true to authentic, Church teachings. It is also home to the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes and was once the home of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American born Saint. “The Mount” is my favorite place to go and twenty four hours there for me is the relaxation equivalent of a weeks vacation.
Monday evening, after finally arriving in Emmitsburg I went out to dinner with two seminarians; Deacon Renaurd West and Mr. Pat May.
Deacon West will be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charleston (SC) on June 7, 2013. It’s a long shot, but it would be great if he was assigned to St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Aiken. I came to know Deacon West several years ago while visiting The Mount. I believe he is going to be an outstanding priest.
Patrick is at his first year at The Mount. He is from Augusta, GA and will eventually be ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Savannah. Interestingly enough, Patrick was a classmate of our oldest daughter, Kelliann at Aquinas HS in Augusta.
Looking from “The Terrace” at MSM, across Rt. 15 to the sun, rising in the East
The routine for when I arrive in town is to visit the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, check into my hotel and meet the men at The Ott House for dinner. It was great getting caught up with Deacon West and getting to know Patrick, who I only recently met for the first time at a wedding in December.
Tuesday morning, I was up bright and early and arrived at The Chapel of The Immaculate Conception at the Mount for the 7am, daily Mass. There is something extremely beautiful and reverant about two hundred and twenty five men, most of who with great voices, participating in the Sacrifice of The Mass. I was surprised to see that Deacon West was the homilist and he used the theme of the day’s responsorial psalm; “Here am I Lord; I come to do Your will” to encourage his brother seminarians to continue on their path to becoming humble priests, being instruments of God’s love.
The sun, shing bright on the Chapel
Patrick May, (L) and Deacon Renaurd West, after Mass.
It was only 8am and my day was already full.
The Church will be in good hands as men like Renaurd and Patrick become ordained as priests.
It was then time to get back on the road for the remainder of the trip to NJ.
A Simple, Village Undertaker 