STB, ah, them were the days....

I am uniting myself in pain with all those who are undertaking the STB, especially my brothers at Oscott. It is but a distant memory now, but how we laughed afterwards!

Fascinated to read on wiki the following:

STB is an acronym that can mean:

• Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus – Bachelor of Sacred Theology
• Set-top box – a television device that converts signals to viewable images
• Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP -- a law firm
• Singapore Tourism Board
• IATA Simplifying the Business
• Sonia Tetlow Band – an Atlanta based Rock band
• Spin the bottle – a party game
• Státní bezpečnost or StB – the secret police in Communist Czechoslovakia
• STB (Channel) – (Ukrainian: СТБ) television channel in Ukraine
• STB Technologies – a defunct manufacturer of PC graphics cards
• Strut Tower Brace - a structural bar designed to increase chassis rigidity in vehicles.
• Stubaitalbahn - narrow-gauge tram line between Innsbruck and Fulpmes
• Sumitomo Trust and Banking – a trust bank in Japan
• Surface Transportation Board – the successor to the U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission

There you go, guys, there must be at least half an hour to be wasted checking out all these sites!

Prayers for you!

Poverty and 'stuff'

Is it possible that in less than ten weeks I will be ordained a priest, please God? Indeed, it is more than possible, quite probable. Bishop David McGough was at Oscott to celebrate the Candidacy of some of our chaps, recently, and said it was planned that he would ordain me on 12th July. This is comforting to know. Full steam ahead! There is much to be done, and little time left to do it, but nonetheless we plough on regardless.

Allow me, for just a moment, to wallow in self pity. I have the ordination to plan, materially as well as spiritually; I have my STB examinations looming on 26th May, and a raft of tests before this, including the first, which was this afternoon; I have to pack up my worldly belongings and get out of here. Ah, much to be done.

I am vexed as to what to take and what to leave. Already this is impinging upon my prayer life. During our weekly holy hour, earlier this week, I was reflecting in the meaning of poverty in scripture. How do we, as ordained ministers of the Church, live out the radical call to poverty? Through prayer I have determined criteria on what to keep and what to leave behind. Will I need it in the immediate future? By this, I mean in the next twelve months and to have specific need, not a ‘just in case’ need. Does it give me pleasure or have significant meaning for me, such that it would be detrimental for me to leave behind. In other words, is it life giving?

This leads me to make a decision on very simple terms and is, most significantly for me, either yes or no. I have need of it, or accept that it gives me pleasure. There is no in between.

Not a perfect solution but, nonetheless, helpful. Do you have any better criteria for what I might do with my ‘stuff’?

If pride were not a sin, then...

... I'd tell you all about my paper for the STB.

Thanks to all who have been praying for those of us undertaking the, what seemed like mammoth, task of writing the final paper for the STB from Leuven.

It has been printed and will be handed in later today. We don't get a result for a few months.

Enormous thanks are due to my promoter, Fr Richard, who has been invaluable throughout. I'm sure it has been like pulling teeth for the poor man.

We have just a few more modules of study to complete and then the final examination in June of this year. All being well, the three of us will be awarded the qualification in early June.

Men leaving Oscott for the priesthood have a degree from Birmingham University (BA Hons.) and from Leuven University (STB). It seems tough on the intellectual front, but this is only one of four strands of our formation. The others being spiritual, pastoral and human. For a good synopsis of it all, read Pastores Dabo Vobis, by Pope John Paul II. He says it better than I could.

We're nearly there....

Just a brief update. As many will already be aware, some of the brothers have been busy writing up an extended essay as part of our STB degree from Leuven University.

I'm pleased to report the final mile is to be had, though to be fair, for some of us this mile will be harder than all the others.

The essay is virtually complete, thanks to my two fantastic editors, and almost ready to be published.

Deadline of Saturday, 28th, will soon pass and life can resume some form of normality.

Heaven, sweet Heaven.

Nose to the grindstone

If you happen to be reading this blog, might I impose on a few minutes more of your time?

Would you be kind enough to offer up a prayer for my intention, which includes by brothers, Paul and Roger. We all have our work cut out finishing off essays due in very shortly.

Sadly, as the hours tick by, the words of Ignatius are so relevant and apt. Work as though all depends on you, pray as though all depends on God.

Oh, and if you have a 12,000 word essay already written on the nature and mission of the ordained priesthood, do please forward it.

Blessings upon you and sincere thanks, for all your prayers, not only in regards this most pressing issue.