Amy Hereford, CSJ

...risen indeed

2011-04-30T13:38:00.000+01:00

Oh death, where is your victory?
Death where is your sting?
Easter is a story of ultimate victory,
of true and lasting peace, Read more....

Great Conversations....

2011-04-08T20:41:00.000+01:00

We're having lots of great conversations in and around my community. As our Lenten journey continues, I think I am in a mode of listening - listening to the Spirit, and listening deeply for the movement of the Spirit in the hopes and dreams of my sisters. I also feel the rising hope of new life - the "greening" of springtime, a "greening" of CSJ life and ministry. This greening does not replace the dominant story of the graying of CSJs, but weaves in a delightful counterpoint to it - a symphony that unfolds as we each sing the melody of who we are and who we are called to be. And so the conversations continue....
Peace,
Amy
-- see my regular blog space:
http://csjslnovitiate.blogspot.com/

Just Posted on my New Site

2011-01-28T17:15:00.000Z

http://csjslnovitiate.blogspot.com/

You're invited to my new blog space that I'm sharing with some wonderful women with whom I live, work and pray, in the CSJ consecrated life tradition.

Moving My Blogging

2011-01-02T02:01:00.000Z

Greetings - I'm changing my blogging habits. I'll switch over to csjslnovitiate.blogspot.com. I've blogged there just a little; it's the blog that we started when Sarah Heger started novitiate. She kept up that blog, and I started this one to recount my adventures in Belgium, in Canon Law, and in life in general. It has been a great experience and there are lots of memories I take with me into the next phase of my life.
Now that life has moved on, we're thinking of combining our blogging efforts to write about the joys and challenges, hopes and dreams of today's CSJs. Our present local community is called the Little Design, an image that has meant a lot in our history as CSJs. Our first women taught lacemaking as way to help women out of poverty and desperation. They taught little designs in lacemaking. Their community was also a little design of God, a design that has been repeated throughout the centuries and throughout the world, right down to our own day and our own place.
So farewell blog readers, and you're more than welcome to follow me and my companions as we blog at csjslnovitiate.blogspot.com. We're planning on several of us taking turns writing, with posts coming about once a week.
See you there!
Amy

Year End Retreat

2010-12-29T19:31:00.002Z

The Year End Retreat is a practice that goes back to our CSJ founding experience, and has been observed in various ways over the years, right down to our own day. In the St. Louis Province we have been invited to plan retreats locally this year. It that spirit, a group of us at the Motherhouse at Carondelet have decided to plan a commuter & online retreat experience. Join us in prayer as this year ends and 2011 begins.

Delinquent Blogger

2010-11-30T15:46:00.000Z

It's been quite a while since I've posted. Life is marching on, lots of goings on. However, there has not been so much in terms of the travel / study experience of that was the impetus for this blog. I'm thinking of combining with some others and putting something that is more in line with what I'm doing these days.
What am I doing these days? I'm living and working with religious communities in the various stages of life as we face a changing and uncertain future, but one full of hope and possibilities. I think the challenge of each era is to take their heritage and live it afresh into the next era. We are certainly the heirs of amazingly dynamic creativity in the renewal of religious life. Faithful to that heritage, those of us that are still actively engaged in religious life and ministry, and those who are starting out on the path are called to live this new heritage as gift and to live it afresh into the 21st century. An amazing challenge - an amazing time to be alive.
So I'll see about recrafting this blog for the new task at hand.
--Amy

CSJ TalkShow Today

2010-10-06T14:30:00.001Z

Medaille's 400th Birthday - Joyeux Anniversaire
Time: 10/06/2010 07:00 PM EDT
Show Notes: This is a web/teleconference gathering for the 400th Anniversary Celebration.
7:00pm Eastern, we'll open the call, and exchange greetings with participants.
7:30pm we'll pray together the Divine Office from MedailleOnline**
8-9pm we'll share reflections on our celebration. Feel free to call in or log in for all or part of the celebrations.

Login

Call in:
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 88959#
Guest PIN: 1#

This evening I'll be hosting a global internet talk show in honor of Medaille's birthday. You can participate by phone or online at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/88959

If you click into it beforehand and listen to a welcome message, you'll have a better sense of what to expect this evening when the program begins. All the details are there.

Medaille is the Jesuit who was associated with the founding of the CSJs in 1650 in Le Puy, France. We've received messages from US CSJ about the event, as well as greetings from our sisters in France, Uganda, Canada and Romania.

I hope to see folks there and will post a follow-up to let you know how things went. Feel free to log in or call in for all or part of the event!

**Prayer handout can be found here.

Peace,
Amy

Another Article

2010-08-04T23:28:00.003+01:00

I just got word that another article was accepted for publication. It will be in Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions. Probably not a NYTimes Bestseller, but it will get in front of various colleagues. I wrote about education loans for people entering religious communities. That's my third article coming out in the fall. I have a few more written and submitted, but I haven't heard from the publishers yet.

I mailed out a new brochure announcing my new degree, and the services I offer. I have gotten a good response with people signing up for my newsletter. I've also had a few contacts from potential clients.

This fall there are several conferences that I'll be attending with the hopes that I'll make some connections for getting work. So it's really all about networking and getting out there. I occasionally come across an article about how to get clients, basically I'm using all the right strategies, so here's hoping.

Friday I drive up to Boston for a few days there, then I'll go to Albany for a few days. There's a CSJ event there that I'll be attending. I've got lots of friends up in that neck of the woods, so I'll be connecting with old friends. I'm also going to check out the Thompson Papers at a library up there. I'm thinking of putting my theology thesis together with some more materials for a book on the spirituality of Francis Thompson. That will be a really cool project. Hopefully the trip there will be helpful moving it forward. I'm especially interested in his prose - which are largely unpublished.

Okay - off to dinner. Hopefully I'll have a chance to post somewhere on my journey.

Peace,

Amy

It's Official!!!

2010-07-03T03:52:00.003+01:00

I got news today that I got the JCL / MA in Canon Law - Summa Cum Laude. Coolness! I'm getting some new clients and keeping some old ones as well, so that is going well. I could use some more work, but it's starting to pick up. I'm also mailing a new brochure to all the religious communities in the country, so hopefully that will generate some new clients as well. So all in good time.
I'm enjoying working with the clients that I have and I feel that I have some experience and expertise that they can use and they very much appreciate. I also enjoy helping them further the work that they are doing. I feel like I'm a part of all the marvelous things that my clients are doing to make the world a better place. That is really rewarding.

So far, I've been getting a good number of new clients with canonical issues, or with a mix of civil and canon law. In the past, about 1/3 of my calls were about canon law, and I had to turn them down. Now I can say: sure can help you.

I have been writing articles - basically taking the papers and thesis I've written for the canon law program, and turning them into articles for various publications. That way they get more play than just being read by a professor and shelved. Also, it is another way of getting my name out and letting people know what my expertise is. Hopefully it will also get some people interested in my services.

I'm trying to finish a few things before heading out for retreat next week. I'll be going to Concordia KS - to the CSJ place there. I've been there, but never for retreat. So hopefully it will be a good experience. Its an 8 hr drive, so I'll get a little quiet time on the way over to get in the zone for retreat.

Thanks to everyone who prayed and supported me during the JCL studies. I started this blog on my way over to Leuven for studies. I'm not sure if I'll continue, but I'll keep going for a while at least.

Peace,

Amy

Over 100,000 hits!!!

2010-06-10T00:58:00.002+01:00

I just passed 100,000 hits on my youtube tatting video - pretty cool!!! In the early days of the sisters of st. joseph, the sisters used to teach lace making to young women of the area so that they would have a source of income. I don't think they used YouTube at the time, but they did what they could. So what can I say - times change. I'm teaching folks to tat over the internet. And if they can access the video, they probably have at least a computer and a highspeed connection. But still, there's a connection to the roots.
The group was called the "little design" at one point. This was probably an allusion to the lace designs as well as the notion that they were just a small group that was doing something small. But like the designs in the lace, it grew and grew to thousands of us, all over the world.
Designs are also interweavings, that pass in and out and over and other each other. It all works together in a lovely way, but it can seem messy along the way. Probably best to have a 'Master Weaver' on hand to untie the knots, and create new patterns along the way.
The video above is the one with the most hits, but this one is clearer:

Peace,
Amy

Peas Today!

2010-06-03T14:16:00.005+01:00

Today, I harvested all of 11 pods, equaling over 60 individual peas. That's the first harvest for me this year, so I'm excited about it. I also got advice from my brother Chris on the poor growth in the plot. He made suggestions on improving the soil - organically of course, over time - with a little synthetic kick to get some yield this year.
So things are already looking better. Zucchini is looking good and I have beans and limas coming. There are some flowers that I planted and some others that were volunteer - I'm not sure what they are.
Tonight we'll get our little community together to start working through organizational stuff: where to put things, cooking, shopping, hanging pictures, times together, etc. We're planning on homemade pizza - a fun, easy new recipe I tried.
I've also had some good leads for work this week, so there's some follow-up, but a lot of waiting to see if they pan out. I'll probably start another article that I can also use for a presentation this summer; I always enjoy the writing aspect of my work. I also have to get started revamping my website - it's been languishing for awhile.
peace,
Amy

Moving - Updating

2010-05-22T22:43:00.002+01:00

I'm planning to move to Carondelet (back to the motherhouse) over Memorial Day weekend. My office is already there, and I've been bringing a few things down each time I've gone to my office. But next weekend I'm hoping to bring everything and make the move final. I've lived there before, and had my office there before, so a lot of similarity. But my community will be different (well somewhat different), and we are planning to have an intentional community. Of course, I guess religious life is pretty intentional anyway. So we'll see how that all works out. I've really only been in my current house since September, and I was away three months, so I've really hardly settled here. However, I've lived here before too, so it wasn't hard to settle in. This is a great neighborhood, with lots of great walking spaces. That will be the biggest difference, I guess.

I'm also updating my computer. I wanted to wait till I got to Carondelet, or nearly got there because there are sometimes glitches, and I can always use my office computer if the laptop gets buggy. It's Lucid Lynx, a long-term-support release of Linux. So hopefully I can get it updated and cleaned up and it will last for awhile. I've heard good things about it.

My last bit of news is that I have Jury Duty tomorrow. Oh, that reminds me, I have to find the bus route. Anyone with hints on how not to get selected for a jury, feel free to post. I'm in the civil courts building, so hopefully it won't be a criminal case. They give two hours for lunch, so I'll try to walk over to the library on the lunch break.

So next post I'll be moved into Carondelet, though it may take more time to get 'settled' in.

Peace,

Amy

2010-05-20T16:58:00.002+01:00

I'm back from the Canyon - WOW - what a place! I great memory to linger with, close my eyes and see the majestic expanse open up. And again I say WOW!
Memorial Day is my planned moving day - I've been carting an arm load of 'stuff' down to Carondelet whenever I come down to my office. So by now, I have a lot already moved. At first, I just stored it in my office. And for the last few weeks, I've brought it right over to my room and put it 'away'.
We have our rooms already, but we may end up changing around a bit once we get settled in. That's still a little open. But at least I'm putting things where I think they belong. Sarah will be coming at the beginning of June, and Sandy shortly after. Then we're still open for another few people, but that's not settled yet. We would like to see four or five people, but we're flexible.
I just had my regular webcast on Tuesday and had just a few people show up for that and have a few more looking for the recording. It is on Transfer to Another Institute. So the topic is somewhat narrow and I wouldn't expect a large audience. I already have several registered for my next program which will be on corporate documents for religious institutes. That should have broader appeal.
I also have some ideas for programs for lawyers, particularly ethics programs. The rules changed, and now all the lawyers in Missouri need to get more ethics hours for continuing education. SOOooo... I'll see what I can do to oblige.
My plot in the community garden is coming along. I have tomatoes, beans, zucchini, onions, peas, garlic, peppers, chives, lettuce and spinach and three kinds of flowers. All in a 4x10 plot! There is also an herb plot nearby. Hopefully I'll be able to get some good growth and yummy veggies.
Peace,
Amy

Off to the Grand Canyon After All

2010-05-03T14:37:00.002+01:00

Off we go to the Grand Canyon - I'll be leaving tomorrow with Mom, Dad and Tom (my brother). We'll fly out, and then get our first glimpse of the Canyon on Wednesday. I've never seen it, though I've planned several trips. So here we go at last. Maybe the next post will have photos I took. But of course, it is impossible to get the whole experience. I found a website with photos if you want to dream along with me: photo gallery.

April I managed to finish a few more writing projects, with several more still in the hopper. I also worked with a few more clients, also a good thing. I feel like I'm starting to get 'traction' with the legal ministry. I didn't realize that I was starting to feel a little desperate until I got some work. At the point, I calmed down a little - not realizing the 'stress' related to waiting for the phone to ring. I keep busy with writing projects, and writing projects are designed to get into the hands of potential clients, but still, it takes some patience.

So at any rate, last week was a good week - last month was a good month. This week I'm on vacation, and hoping the rest of the month will match. If not, I have all those writing projects waiting for me.

Peace,

Amy

Life is Rolling Along....

2010-04-09T17:40:00.005Z

In May, I'll be going to the Grand Canyon with Mom, Dad and Tom. I have planned several trips to the canyon, but for one reason or another, none of them worked out - so this year, it looks like it will become a reality. Definitely should be a great way to start the summer.
I just got the results from my Thesis Defense - YES!!! I got two 18s and a 17. For the non-KUL folks, that's excellent! I thought I would have to wait till the next exam period for the results to be posted, but alas, there's a new university wide regulation that says I get the results 'swiftly'. Apparently that means 6 weeks rather than 4 months. So good news on that front.
A few clients have contacted me - some are folks I've worked with before, others are new people. I'm not sure where they're getting my name - I'll have to ask when I have the opportunity, but for now I'm just happy to have some good leads.
This week, I posted my newsletter on transfers (my thesis topic) and I'm getting good response to that - I'm a little surprised because I thought it might be such a narrow topic that it wouldn't generate much interest - but I guess that's not the case. It will probably get play beyond my usual group of clients, that is always a good thing.
I'm continuing to knock out one writing project a week - that's my informal goal. I also doing reading and research for other projects and taking care of the myriad smaller tasks that need attention. I still have three papers for Leuven, and several articles to write. I also have some presentations to prepare. Thankfully I have the time now to dedicate to this, and I'm enjoying it.
On Sunday, a group will meet about gathering a small community at Carondelet - an intentional group that wants to connect with the younger CSJs across province, congregation, federation, etc. I'm excited about the group and think it will be a great group with whom to share community. We still have some details to work out and some ideas to explore, but it looks like I'll probably be moving to Carondelet in June. I've started bringing things to my office (also at Carondelet) in preparation for the move.

It is SO time for a post...

2010-03-25T17:58:00.002Z

That being said, I really have no other great news to share, so I'll share tidbits:
1. I managed to complete three articles in the time I've been back. Two are on - well, you guessed it - transfer. One for my newsletter, one for Human Development - submitted yesterday - here's hoping.
2. We had jubilee celebrations last week. One of my housemates was celebrating 50 years and her family was in for the festivities. They were delightful and we had a grand celebration at Carondelet.
3. I have a few clients who have contacted me with potential work - so that's beginning. I'm hoping that the articles will also generate publicity and clients for me, but that will take time. "Planting Seeds."
4. I've considered tacky lawyer commercials: Sister - have you been harmed? - I can help you get the justice you deserve. What do you think? Billboard? TV?
5. I also have some more things to read and write to complete my program. I actually get the degree in July, so I can't publish an announcement of that for a few months. At that time I may come out with a mailing or something.
6. I'm probably going to move back to Carondelet to live with some other 'younger' sisters - that move will likely come this summer - that sounds exciting for me and I look forward to settling in there for a while. But I keep thinking I'll be settling somewhere for a while, then life happens, and I'm on the road again.
--So that's what 'life as usual' looks life for me these days. Happy rest of Lent!

Peace,
Amy

It's Snowing in Barcelona

2010-03-09T06:51:00.003Z

I came here to warm up a little after Belgium, and before heading back to chilly St. Louis for another few months of winter. And just as I arrived, they laid in the biggest snow storm in nearly 50 years. What's up with that??? It rained in the morning, and it turned to show all afternoon into the evening. Usually it's the tourists with the cameras, but now the locals were all pulling out their cameras and cell phones to capture the moment. The bus lines shut down because with one inch of snow on the ground, it was just too dangerous to continue!!! Well, not in my world... but this is the Mediterranean after all.
I did get around a good bit before getting 'snowed in'. This morning all the snow is melted and the streets are clear. I plan to head out into the touristy thing before the next blizzard hits.
I'm here for two more days, then at the crack of dawn I take off for the airport and spend all day getting back to St. Louis. There will be a 'double law party' since my friend Christine has also taken her bar exam in February. Then on Sunday we'll be celebrating my Mom's 80th birthday.
Then I should be able to settle down a bit, but the next week is the Feast of St. Joseph and all the jubilee celebrations for the sisters.
So this is how I'm spending my lent....
Peace to all,
Amy

Defense Went Well

2010-03-04T11:53:00.004Z

All was set for the big day - and we got underway just after 11am. I decided to put my charts and graphs on slides to bring a little color to the topic. I got some good feedback and interesting discussion. It was a new topic for all of them so they appreciated the opportunity to have the information and a discussion.
I have still a few more sessions and a few things to do while I'm here, but that was the last big event. It is sunny here in Leuven, though still cold. It is the feast day of the Theology faculty, so there aren't many people around, and there are various events for that. I may join in part of that because I'll have friends there.
We had good sessions at the Castle - my presentations went well and were well received. On one afternoon, we went to visit an old Romanesque abbey church, the went for a walk along the Meuse river. It was a nice break and the weather was clear but cold for the afternoon. There were about 25 people at the program there, and the group was quite diverse. That always makes for interesting discussion and interaction as people share their own experience around church, theology, law, etc. That is really enriching.
We had a dramatic trip back on the train. There were nine of us - no belgians - and we had two changes. We were traveling on a group ticket, which is a little trickier than just having your own ticket. We had to stay together, and theoretically we had to locate and occupy the assigned seats on the train. Well, we couldn't find them on the second train, then we missed our connection, the had to explain our plight to succeeding conductors. Someone said that it was quite a drama - we started explaining to one of the group, a Cypriot, what drama was, then realized it was a Greek word - oh yes, he knew what drama was....
So I'll be home in a week - lots of great experiences - lots to share.
Peace,
Amy

Carnaval in Leuven

2010-02-27T15:38:00.005Z

The sun came out for a few hours here in Leuven - and the folks threw a parade. I guess the parade was already planned, but it was great timing. I've pulled a few photos from the internet to give you a feel of the hats. Those are feathers coming out the top. There were also marching bands and kids in costume.

Everything is going well here. I'm enjoying seeing everyone and the canon law program is going well. We've actually had a pretty good variety of topics. One guy who is a barrister in England and a canon lawyer did an analysis of the arrangement with the Anglican 'rite'. I especially liked getting the background that he and the others from that area were able to provide. We even had a 'low church' Anglican priest with us, so he had some interesting perspectives as well.

I was at UPIC last weekend, but I won't be able to go back again. That's too bad, because it was so nice to see everyone. I joined the choir for that one Mass.

I'm enjoying my little student room - it is comfortable and really conveniently located. I've had dinner with a few friends on a couple of occasions. There's a little kitchen down the hall and each person has a designated shelf in the refrigerator (marked with your room number). That has made meals very convenient. I just did my last shopping today - trying to gage enough food for the rest of my stay. That's when I encountered the parade.

I'm going to take it easy the rest of today - probably go out for a walk (weather is great). I also have to put together a few things for the trip to the castle tomorrow. I should probably just make sure my slides for my presentation are still on my computer.

Well, remember the defense is March 4th. I've talked with my promoter and one other professor that will be there. The third person I've never met, but he'll be doing a series of lectures at the castle, so I'll meet him there. Castle Video More

Then when I get home, there's the Utriusque Iuris party (double law party). I have a friend who took her bar exam this week, so she and I will have a party together at my house on Magnolia.

Hope all is well with everyone,
Peace,

Amy

PS: I lost my glasses - the second time in a week. This time someone found them and emailed me. In the glasses case, I have my email address. Thanks be to God!!! And to Jeff V.

On my way....

2010-02-17T16:13:00.002Z

I'm off to Belgium, a car, a train, 3 planes, another train.... and I'll be settled in by tomorrow evening local time. I don't expect to be 'online' till Friday, Feb 19, so don't be alarmed if I don't answer emails.
This should be a good trip, some things to do, but nothing stressful. I'll meet up with lots of friends: hugs, kisses, and stories galore!
Then back home March 11, and a party on March 12: Double Law Party - Utriusque Iuris. My friend Sr. Christine Beach is doing her bar exam at the end of February, and will be in town, so - let's celebrate, canon law, civil law and the freedom of the children of God!
--Peace
--Amy

You are outstanding!

2010-02-12T17:22:00.003Z

This morning I received the following email from the university in Leuven, It came in response to the handouts I sent for some presentations I'll be doing there in early March:

Dear Amy,
You are outstanding! I am very glad you are interested to enroll into our program!

So I'm feeling pretty good just now, I can ride on this for days!!!

In addition, I'm working on the back porch at Magnolia and there is a bright red cardinal that has been flying around outside entertaining me. Perhaps that's part of the outstandingness of the materials I sent over.

I'm prepared for my annual tax seminar over the web - Basic Taxation for Religious. I have 12 people, which is pretty good I think. I just finished (more or less) the presentations I have for Leuven. I'll be presenting some work that I've done in the past, but it's all new for these folks, and apparently it's outstanding!

My Shreveport trip finished well - I think I gained as much as can be expected. I've never worked in the diocesan world, so this was a great opportunity to get a feel for the people and the operations in one local church. I'm sure that will stand me in good stead as I move forward.

I enjoyed my Wisconsin trip. I was speaking on consecrated life at the parish masses at St. Therese. Dr. Alexandra Guliano is a CSJ associate and she invited me there to speak. I normally give fairly technical presentations that have a clear outline (I hope). This was completely different. I was not entirely certain what was going to come out when I got up to speak. But I had three focal points that I was working with:

The readings of the day: Call of Isaiah, Paul and Peter - put out into deep water....
The section of my thesis where I reflected on the nature of vocation and of religious vocation.
My own experience in religious life and my experience serving religious institutes.

Each talk was slightly different, but I really believe in the value of religious life for myself and for the church and the world today. I hope that came across. I enjoy the legal ministry I do because I'm able to help religious institutes maximize their service of others, teaching, healing, reaching out, etc. Of course, consecrated life is in many respects not so different from other forms of Christian life. People living the Gospel, and reaching out in love and service to others in little and big ways. But the vowed life attempts to set up a society in which we can live gospel values more deliberately. E.g. through the vow of poverty we throw everything in common - and set up an alternate economy where all are cared for, and where wealth is found in giving, not in having, and where the whole orientation is to serve the other. It's an experiment that shows that the gospel works if we let it.

Now I'm preparing for my trip to Belgium. I leave Feb 17 (Ash Wednesday) and I have a few days to acclimate before I start the first program on the following Monday. That runs all week, but we have some free slots. Then Sunday we start the second program, which is two programs running interspersed. I only have to do one of them. Sometime they run 10-12 hours of presentation a day, so it will be good that I can skip parts. There is another program the second part of that week - I like the presenter, and depending on how she handles her topic I may sit in on part of that - but it's not required.

I fly to Barcelona on March 7 (sunday afternoon). I'll fly out of there on Thursday. That will give me three days of sun and practicing Spanish and seeing the sites there. I'm going there because it was about $250 cheaper to fly there than to fly to Brussels. The in Europe tickets are cheap. Also, they were taking till mid January to finalize the dates for the program. So this allowed me to get the ticket to Europe early and cheap. Then pick up the local flight once I knew the details.

Pray for thesis defense: March 4, and also for other presentations March 1-3. I don't expect problems. And The guy who thinks I'm outstanding should be able to help if any snags come up.

Peace,
Amy

Last Weekend in the South

2010-01-31T23:05:00.003Z

3 CSJs in Canton, Mississippi. Sarah Heger from StL and Chris Pologa from Albany and I converged on historic Canton for meal and camaraderie. We got there in time for lunch and enjoyed a grand time. Catching up, sharing experiences and dreaming dreams. Then hopped back in our cars and headed home 3 1/2 hours for each of us, north, south and west respectively.
Next weekend, I'll be in Milwaukee to do a presentation at the weekend Masses at St. Theresa for consecrated life Sunday. I'm thinking that I'll take some material from my thesis - okay I won't read it to them.... But in one of the sections I worked through the question of what a vocation is, and then what a religious vocation is. It was an interesting exercise, and I think I'll use some of that for the folks in Milwaukee. The readings will certainly cooperate: put out into deep water - I will make you fishers of my people. So I think it will come together.
I'll be here in Shreveport till Thursday, then the long train ride home, arriving Friday in St. Louis. Then Saturday morning I take off for Milwaukee.... I think I'll have some travel time to work out the presentation. Whew! I'll be there for four days, then back to St. Louis for a week and off to Belgium for my last stand!!!
I find myself saying over and over: when I get back from Belgium --- I've started a list. Right now there is too much coming at me to do anything but stay afloat. But I'm doing well I think. I had been somewhat concerned about these first two trips, and all has gone well. I sort of feel like I'm floating through the events, and managing to enjoy it all. But it will be good to get home and get on to that 'todo' list.
Keep warm and well - and remember to pray for safe and fruitful travels - and for the thesis defense on March 4!

Peace,
Amy

When the Saints go marching....

2010-01-26T23:32:00.008Z

I just watched the last of the fourth quarter and the overtime - but it was certainly worth watching that much. And then there was all sorts of racket that broke loose in the area - celebrating I supposed. Later I found out that there was a fire nearby with fire trucks and the whole works. Guess I should pay more attention. It was an apartment and they managed to move into another apartment in the complex - but of course they need furniture, clothes, etc.
I've been working at the tribunal, meeting all the folks at the diocese and generally getting acquainted with the area. Last week, I was introduced as having come here from Belgium - so folks keep complementing me on my English.
It's really been a delight to meet some of the folks and hear their story and hear about what they are doing and why. That is the best part of it. Let me tell you: if the great, salt-of-the-earth, people got a chance to run the show, it would be terrific. There are a few things in the way, but it sure is nice to meet the folks that are just working to make the gospel happen in their own lives and around them.
I met with one guy who happens to be a big wheel in the Mardi Gras celebrations. He brought us to 'the dens'. Cool! That is where they assemble the floats for the big parade. It was really cool to climb on the floats and see how they are assembled - they all have a bar and bathrooms and there was a little rig to pass drinks up to the top.
After the dens, we saw the church - it was a pretty little church - there's a picture of me in the church - but it's not on my camera, so I found the one at the left on the internet.
Then I met with the ladies working at the tribunal - really nice folks - and they work really hard to keep cases moving along. The canon law system is more than a little crazy - but then I knew that. But the folks are really pastoral - and they try to help people move through the process and heal from a difficult relationship and understand what it takes to make a better marriage. It's just that law is not the tool to make this happen - but most of the folks I see are trying to make it work for the people.
I also finished my thesis and sent over to Belgium to get printed. Whoopie!!! So about a week here, a week in Wisconsin, a week in St. Louis, then a few weeks in Belgium and I'll be finished. I have a few presentations to prepare. With the thesis complete, I'll start working my way through those projects. March 4th @ 11:00am Belgian time (4:00am - central) I'll be defending my thesis - that will be my last requirement. I'll have a few presentations earlier that week - but they are on topics I've presented before. I just have to pull them together. I also have a webcast the day before I leave for Belgium - probably not a great plan, but that's just how it worked.
So keep me in prayer. I'm doing well, just keeping on keeping on through the various issues. Thankfully the internship is low key so I have time to keep up with these other projects.
Peace,
Amy

Arrived in Shreveport

2010-01-18T02:07:00.002Z

I've arrived in Shreveport LA, it was a long, but good trip. Saturday rained all day - I mean really rained!!! But Sunday it's been sunny and lovely. We went to Mass, then went to walk out by the river and in the downtown area. That's where we saw the lineup of metal roses here. Not sure the significance. Anyway it was a nice walk - we saw a guy out flying a remote control airplane. I saw, but didn't get a picture - a small aircraft flying over and in the distance above it was an airliner. It would have been a cool picture - trust me.
Then I came home and tried to get the wireless working here. I'm staying with a CSJ from Albany who is the canon lawyer I'm working with here. Sr. Marilyn Vassallo. Anyway after lots of attempts and Tom's capable assistance it's still not working. I'm on a wired connection - we'll get a local guy to look at it later in the week.
On Saturday, we had a workshop by a guy trying to peddle the new translation of the Mass. No sale! His best argument for the new translation was "because I said so." "There's hardly any change.... But it is so incredibly much better." "And it's approved by the Vatican, so it must be better." (i.e. better that what was already approved by the Vatican 30 some years ago.) No sale! Grumble....
The two sisters here are great. One is Marilyn whom I'm staying with, the other is Pat, also an Albany CSJ, who is setting up Catholic Charities. Both interesting folks. I've met lots of the locals, I got introduced as a visitor from Belgium - and some guy came up to talked to me and after a bit commented on how good my English was.... Why thank you - you should hear my Flemish!!!
I'm getting my plans finalized for my trip to Belgium - I have a ticket over and a place to stay. My defense will be March 4 @ 11:00am. That will be 4 am St. Louis time - so if you're up early, send a prayer my way. I need to do one more read through on my thesis, and Julie is supposed to be reading as well. So hopefully I'll have it complete in the next week or so. I'll email it over and there is a guy there who will make the copies.
Tomorrow I'll have a quiet day. We were planning a trip on MLK day, but decided we both have work, so we'll stay home and I'll try to read a thesis chapter through. Maybe even two. I've been a little tired - shouldn't be, but I have been. So it will be good to have a quiet day. Its probably all the meeting and greeting - wears an introvert out.
All the best!
Amy

On the Road Again....

2010-01-08T22:31:00.002Z

Blog posts have been a bit sparse for the last six months because I've been 'at home' and this was originally intended to be a way of connecting with folks at home when I was away. Well - I'm heading out again for a few months. I have several trips which should prove interesting and I'll want to keep all you folks on the home front apprised of my peregrinations.
The first journey should prove an interesting trip - I'm not sure what to expect from my Shreveport experience, except that I'm hoping it will be warmer than here. It's 13 degrees now in St. Louis and the snow is not even thinking about melting.... I know almost nothing about things diocesan, so it will be interesting to get involved for a few weeks and get a feel for how things work, at least in one, small, mission diocese. My communications with the sister I'll be working with have been good, and I fully expect to enjoy my time with her. She seems eager to show me the ropes at the diocesan offices and has generously offered to put me up during my time there and introduce me around the CSJ world there. I think it will be a good experience - and I'm looking forward to warming up a little.
The thesis is basically finished. I had several excellent reviews over the last several weeks. Various experts who commented on parts of the document and gave me really good suggestions. I've implemented all that, and am trying to gather steam to do one more good review.
I've also taken a moment to look back over my first six months back in the US during which I've been busy with thesis and some clients. I'm pronouncing it a good six months. I had heard stories about 'reverse culture shock', the notion that coming back home can be more difficult in some respects than going away. I'll have to say I've felt pretty good about the transition. I don't think I've annoyed too many people with my "well in Belgium they do it this way." It is surprising to see the things that had changed - folks here had gotten used to them, but it was new to me. For example, we used to have an economy, Bush was in the White House and I used to know the Cardinal players. Well, things change.
The next two months are booked pretty solid, and will involve lots of variety, some travel, some new faces, and the completion of the requirements for my JCL - I won't get the degree till July. Then when I get back, hopefully I'll have some time to organize an office and I'll have some work to do there.
All is well here - hope things are well with you as well.
Peace,
Amy

Snowball Fight Record

2009-12-17T17:00:00.002Z

Leuven’s students did not have to wait for the winter to start having fun in the snow this year: on 14 October, several thousand students – 5,694 to be exact – broke the snowball fight world record. They smashed the previous record – 3,749 participants – held by Michigan Technological University. Skikot travel agency organised the record-breaking event, for which 120 tons of snow were shipped to the Ladeuzeplein!
Even though it's the oldest Catholic university in the world, they still strive for excellence in an ever widening range of disciplines - or un-disciplines. I missed the historic event, or I guess I could say I boycotted it due to the high environmental cost.... and I haven't seen a flake of snow yet this year.
I've finished a good first draft of my thesis and I'm running it through readers and implementing their suggestions. Then through my advisor and implementing those suggestions. So it's more detail work at this point. I'm pretty happy with the project as a whole. I had hoped to complete it by Christmas, and I've got the first draft 10 days early! I've got about a month to finalize everything and send it to Belgium to get printed and distributed.
I'm looking forward to Christmas with family and community. I've been busy making candy for the occasion. I enjoy doing this and always showing up for parties with a box of home-made goodies.
After the first of the year, things will get a little hectic:
Washington DC Jan 11-12
Shreveport LA Jan 13-Feb4
Milwaukee WI Feb 6-9
Leuven Belgium Feb 20-Mar5 (ish)
Then once I get back home, I'll launch into law practice in earnest. I've been working on the side (just won two tax cases in time for christmas - yay!). But it will take work to get all the organizational / administrative aspect of a Law Office back on track. And of course - I'm hoping I'll be able to build clients as well.
So this Christmas I'm conscious of the presence of God in our world, in my own world, and in and among those with whom I live and work: Emmanuel.
Christmas blessings!
Amy

Thanksgiving....

2009-11-22T14:24:00.003Z

Someone just asked me if my time in Leuven went fast - well, I guess it did. It was a great experience, but now that it's past, it does seem short. However, I think there are lots of ways that I'm really a different person for the experience. Just having the opportunity to meet, study and pray with folks from so many different places and so many different experiences has been a real blessing. I think it is hard to measure how that will work into the future for me. Another real blessing is the opportunity to do theology while I was over there. I've been doing theology classes one or two at a time for 30 years. Now that is a good way to do things - you learn a lot, and have an opportunity to integrate with lots of life experience. But this time, I got the opportunity to do some things in a concentrated way, and, as I said, with folks from all over the world.
I've been back about four months, and I've found the transition back to be remarkably easy. Several things working in my favor: I have my thesis as my main task, so I didn't have to face getting back into full time work / finding a job, etc. Also, I was concerned about rebuilding a law practice - well, that has been easier than I expected, various clients around the country are connecting. Also, the apostolic visitation is raising questions for folks, and I'm better equipped to help now. (This one is a mixed blessing for sure.)
This year, for the first time in two years, I'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with family and community. That is a real treat. We'll gather at Mom's and Dad's in New Haven for dinner on Saturday. We celebrate Saturday to accommodate all the in-laws schedules, and make it easier for everyone to gather. I'm planning to stay out in New Haven for the whole weekend - depending on when I can get transport. Then Christmas is just around the corner. Can you believe it?
My thesis is coming well. I have two chapters back from my promoter, and another that is written, Julie is proofing it before I send it over. Then I have a pretty good outline on the final chapter. It will be fun to write, but may be a little challenging. It will be on the theology of transfer - probably the spirituality of transfer. But that requires that I first talk about the notion of vocation, and of religious vocation in particular. These are important topics, but somewhat elusive. People have written about them, but often by talking about the externals, or by saying what it's not. But really, what IS vocation - and what IS religious vocation in particular? So that's what I'll be working on for the next few weeks.
I have some legal work - I'm pretty confident that this will grow in the month ahead. Probably my biggest challenge is to arrange everything that's going on in the first three months of next year: conference in DC, internship in Shreveport, presentation in Milwaukee, thesis defense, workshop and presentation in Leuven. I'm still trying to get all this pinned down so I can make travel arrangements. Then when I get home around March 10, things should settle down a little, and I can turn to getting more organized for law practice. Right now I'm still hobbling along on the organization I set up 5 years ago - it's going well enough - but could use some serious 'tweaking'.
HAPPY Thanksgiving All!!!
Peace,
Amy

Karmic Koala, etc.

2009-11-03T01:36:00.005Z

Last week was the big release of Karmic Koala, Ubuntu's version 9.10. I had planned to wait a week or so, but when my computer popped up ready to update - well, I just couldn't resist. My computer is all full of Karma and it's great. The program is faster and cleaner and there are some neat new bells and whistles. I got an Asus netbook when my laptop died, and it required a few patches to run the last version of linux, but with the new version it's up and running out of the box.
In other Linux news, I've found a great podcast: Going Linux. It has interesting tips and news items. I'm learning more and more how to "use linux to get things done," so goes the program's tag line.
Hard to believe something came before my thesis in the Blog. So the thesis is coming along. I have two chapters completed - they are both out to readers (friends). I have yet to submit one to my advisor - but I will get that out this week, even if I don't have anything from a reader. I've started the "juridical" chapter which is really the last chapter. I'll go back and fill in the Theology chapter - I think that will be more fun to write, so I'm saving it till last.
I went to another national meeting October 20-23. It went really well, connect with a lot of folks that I've worked with in the past, and met new people as well. The Apostolic Visitation is a big stir and topic of conversation. It is a serious issue and there are a lot of unknowns. Prayers are needed for the women under investigation, and for the investigators as well - euphemistically called the Visitator. There are lots of legal problems with the current phase, but I think folks are taking the time to get good advise and the help they need to decide how to respond. I have to say this has really made me see the wisdom of doing the canon law program. Who would have known, but it puts me in a position of being able to help lots of folks. So as soon as I finish my program, there should be plenty of work to do.
At the October meeting, I also made it to the Atlanta Aquarium - which was incredibly beautiful. We had an hour after the general public had already left to go around and see the fishes - very peaceful and really beautiful. It was just amazing to see all the little guys swimming around and the big ones as well. They had a few of the staff people who could explain about the fish and their habits and where they all came from. That was also nice. But mainly it was just so neat to see them all swimming around - just amazing.
Beautiful autumn weather here too - the trees are absolutely gorgeous - they will probably be bear soon, so it the last chance to enjoy them.
Peace,
Amy

Louisville, KY

2009-10-12T23:48:00.006Z

Reporting live from Louisville KY! I'm at the Canon Law Society meeting. I made it through the opening session and the reception. I connected with a few people that I knew and met a few more people. I did manage to stick my foot in my mouth once - oh well.... recovered now. I'm staying at the 'cheap' hotel down the road (1/2 the price of the convention discount at the other place). Tomorrow will be input sessions. And I want to connect with a few more people. Some people I was hoping to connect with aren't here.
I drove over - just over 4 hours to get here - lots of construction zones, but not much construction going on. I came mid day, so there were no jams. But the fall colors were SPECTACULAR!!! Round every bend was better than the last. I'm hoping for good weather on the way back too, it should be even better. Most places were still somewhat shy of peak colors. But BEAUTIFUL!!! It was definitely better to drive than the two or three hop flight.
I listened to a few more linux podcasts on the way over, and just enjoyed the view. It's really a little short to do a book on tape - well, I could get started. I did download a few extra podcasts, just in case.
Thesis is a little on hold. I actually found a few more articles that I can read while I'm here. Then I might get a little written when I get home. I leave here around noon on Thursday.
All the best - make sure you get out and enjoy the leaves when you can!!!
Amy

Okay, so it's not about word count.....

2009-10-05T20:53:00.004Z

Granted there's a lot to writing a good thesis, it's not just word count. But that's my current thermometer for seeing how far along I am in the project. I've completed one chapter and it's out with a proofreader - actually with two of them, because the first was incapacitated. That was the chapter that analyzed the survey information on transfers. Really interesting stuff. I enjoyed working with the material and writing up the results. Hopefully that will come across in the writing.
Currently I'm working on the section on history. I had a head start on that because I did some work on the topic last semester. But I'm filling it out and giving some more up-to-date information. The previous work focused on the middle ages.
I'm pretty well settled into Magnolia and I even have a sort of 'schedule'. I'm in my office at Carondelet Mondays and Thursday, and working from home the other days, like today. In fact, someone called today, expecting me to be at Carondelet - so I'm already predictable.... But I'm actually working from home because transportation will work better tomorrow - so much for predictibility. The critter at the left is a neighbor. We have a pair of great horned owls who have taken a liking to our house and can often be found in the trees near the house and can often be heard singing back and forth - it's really cool. I've only actually seen them once - sitting side by side on a branch. We have lots of folks who come around with binoculars looking at the trees around our house. It takes some getting used to.
Fall colors are just starting - I went up for my first plane ride this year on Sunday with my dad. Didn't see a whole lot but I did sort of try a few landings. The leaves should be better in a few weeks. I'll definitely have to get up in the air again.
I'm still getting around on my bike - either joy riding or getting around town. St. Louis is a little bigger than Leuven, but I can do some meaningful travel on a bike. For the rest, I ride with someone or borrow a car or take the bus. Actually bus/bike is also an option because most busses have bike racks. I'm not terrible graceful about getting my bike on and off, but I manage to get it done. And it really extends the places I can go.
Okay, back to a book I'm reading for my thesis - I still have several that are more background material. And continue to find an article here and there that I need to go through.
Peace,'
Amy

It's All About Word Count

2009-09-19T01:09:00.005Z

Okay so I'm writing my thesis and my life now is all about word count. I need 50,000 words. I'm just over 13,000. The great thing is that I wrote almost 8,000 this week!!! I'm really happy about that.

I'm writing about transferring to another religious institute. I did an online survey and that got great results. This week I've written most of the survey up; really interesting results. Then I've have lots of good ideas for my next chapter which will be on the theology / spirituality of transfer. It will be based on first what is vocation, then what is religious vocation. These are pretty simple questions, but it is not really easy to answer either question. But I have some good ideas and some good authors. I've been talking through my ideas with some friends. I have just a little to polish off on the survey. I'll do that early next week, then probably do some more writing, then pick up the theology / spirituality chapter the following week. I'll put the survey chapter out to readers, then get a social science researcher to read and comment as well.

I'm pretty well settled into a routine of working 2 days at Carondelet - generally Monday and Thursday. Then working the rest of the week from home. That is working well for me. On Monday I rode my bike over to the bus - loaded it on the bus and rode up to Tower Grove, then rode my bike over to the house. That worked out pretty well. Other times I ride back and forth with Barb or Mary Louise, my housemates. I took a short ride around the park today.

---oops - sorry for mistakes....

Amy

New from the IRS

2009-09-02T20:09:00.003Z

1. Exemption Application User Fees to Change in 2010 User fees will increase for all EO applications for exemption (Forms 1023, 1024, and 1028), postmarked after January 3, 2010. Cyber Assistant, a Web-based software program designed to help 501(c)(3) applicants prepare a complete and accurate Form 1023 application, will become available during 2010. Once Cyber Assistant is made available, user fees for Form 1023 will change again.

2. New Process for Supporting Organizations to Change Public Charity Classification The IRS has modified the procedures for reclassifying section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations as public charities. Announcement 2009-62 updates procedures for such requests to be consistent with new regulations eliminating the advance ruling process.

3. Register Now for Fall Workshops for Small and Mid-Sized 501(c)(3) Organizations These introductory one-day workshops, designed for administrators or volunteers responsible for an organization's tax compliance, will be held in Philadelphia, PA on October 6, 7, and 8, 2009. Get more information and register online.

oops, posted this to the wrong blog ---- it should be on my nonprofit blog: ahereford.blogspot.com

Crock Pot Yogurt

2009-08-27T23:45:00.002Z

I don't think of myself as the cooking type. I pretty much cook the same few things all the time and try to vary one or two ingredients or seasonings each time so I cover up my laziness. However, I do like to get into making candies at Christmas time - great for gifts - ensures a welcome at parties.
I addition to this, I've had a hankering to try yogurt. I've been told by those who have done it that it's easy, but when they explain it, I sour on the idea, and never give it a try. But recently I've decided to search it out on the internet and give it a try. This weekend is the big experiment. The recipe is found here: Crock Pot Yogurt. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I had my first major law job - well, major for me anyway. I went to Phili to meet with a client for two days (including travel). It was interesting and went well. I like the client and like what they're about. So I got to be the big shot out of town expert for a few days. Now I'm back home and surprised to find it's Thursday and I have done almost nothing this week on my thesis. However, I've done a good bit on moving both home and office, so that's good.
I'm working through lots of documents, books and articles, taking notes and poking away at ideas for outline on the thesis itself. My computer is in the capable hands of Dad and Tom, so I can't really write till I get it back. But reading and pondering is keeping me busy at this point. I've got a direction for the section on Theology / Spirituality of Transfer that I talked about last week. It relies on two theories that I found in the congress materials. I think it should at least be a way of thinking about the reality - I may write more when I get it a little more concretized myself. Till then, I'll just say I'm making progress.
Okay, so next week, I'll give a report on the yogurt making....
Peace,
Amy

Reading and more reading....

2009-08-20T22:49:00.002+01:00

I've managed get the law practice more or less 'open for business.' I've restarted my newsletters and I have webcasts scheduled for the year. View the newsletter, and/or subscribe to it. It's mainly for on legal topics for religious and nonprofits. Not exactly a general interest publication, but it has its audience. I've also gotten my license and insurance up to date and I've registered for some conferences that will be educational and also will put me in contact with lots of potential clients. So that's about all I can do on that score.
I'm staying at Magnolia, my new house, once or twice a week, bringing somethings over each time I come. So that is 'moving' along.
So now it's down to business on my thesis. I visited some local libraries that have some good resources. I'm also starting to read everything I gathered from Leuven before I left. And all the other resources that I have found online.
While I visited Rome, I connected with the UISG, the union of superior's general - the nun's world-wide trade union. They have a website where they posted all the talks and some of the responses to an international congress on religious life in 2004. Some of the talks there were FANTASTIC. They focus on two 'icons' as the discussion starters: the Samaritan woman at the well, and the good Samaritan. I just finished reading a paper by Dolores Aleixandre that is really great. I highly recommend it. I'm actually looking for material to answer three questions for my thesis:

What is vocation?
What is religious vocation?
What is transfer within the context of religious vocation?

The questions are pretty simple, but coming up with an answer is a little more difficult. But the reading for it is interesting, and I think it will be useful to become more conversant in the ideas that are floating around on the topic.
The survey results are slowing down, but I have great results and did some statistical analysis on what I have so far. I will take the time to read the open ended questions as well. I looked briefly at them just to make sure the responses were what I was looking for. But I want to set aside some time when I can read them as a group to get a feel for them as a group, then analyze and categorize, etc. So I will need a solid block of a few days for that.
Next week I go to Pennsylvania for two days to see a client. That will be a nice break, and should be an interesting job. After that, I can turn to the survey results.
Peace,
Amy

How Time Flies....

2009-08-15T20:33:00.004+01:00

Yes, I know it's trite, but what can I say... it's true! Thankfully I'm getting my TODO list under control.
I've been back a month now, and have mainly gotten my law practice kick started. That consisted of updating my website. And writing a newsletter on a canonical topic. That will be followed up by a webcast on the same topic in November. I also had to 're-up' my license and insurance, and start moving into an office at the Motherhouse - the same office I had before. I also have 3 or 4 open cases that need occasional tending. I'll be headed to Phili for a meeting with one group next week.
Next, I had to settle my residence. I'm not moved yet, but I'll be going back to Magnolia where I had been living when I first returned to St. Louis. It is a community of 4 other sisters in a lovely house with lots of green space: Tower Grove Park and Shaw's Botanical Garden. I can bike or ride share to my new office. I'm not moved there yet, a flare up in my shoulder injury has put that somewhat on hold. But I'm bringing a few things at a time; I hope to be settled there in a month or so.
Then, I'm moving ahead on my thesis. It's on transfer to another religious institute. There's an online survey for that. The survey is going spectacularly well!!! I have responses from well over 10% of the target population. I'm not doing quite so well with congregational responses, but still there are good responses. I'll get down to business on the thesis this coming week. I'm not sure which section to tackle first, but probably History or Sociology. The other two sections are Theology and Jurisprudence. I still have lots of reading to do for this. I collected resources in Leuven that I still have to read. Then this past week I visited the libraries at the Seminary and Chancery Office to see what they have on hand. Not like Leuven, but they have some things that may help.
Finally, a few sisters and I have gotten an idea for a CSJ project across the federation that is kind of exciting. So I've been doing some work for that, and for another community project that I'm a part of.
Whew! So there is plenty to keep me busy. Thankfully, I should be able to settle down now and focus on the Thesis.

TODO Lists

2009-07-28T21:04:00.005+01:00

I've been back for about 2 weeks. And I think I'm finally getting the edge on my todo list. Whew! It seems for a while there that every time I did something on the list, two more things would appear. Tom suggested that this was a clear indication I should stay away from this list and it might not get longer....
But alas, I did not follow that advice, but I think I'm getting my head above water. There are three basic tasks - 1) getting my life together: where shall I live? where shall I work? reconnecting with family, friends, community. Getting hooked up with internet, phone, transportation, insurance. 2) restarting my law practice, professional accreditation, licensing and insurance, re-upping my website, restarting webcasting, tending to a few clients, thinking about some upcoming professional conferences, contacting former clients. and 3) arranging stuff for my third year of canon law: thesis research, arranging practicum, etc. Whew!
Other than that, readjustment has been fairly smooth. I'm living / working from Carondelet at present, I'll have dinner at Magnolia tonight - I'm seriously looking at moving there in the next month or so. I may reoccupy my old office space at Carondelet. It's a five mile bike ride between the two - very doable in this weather. And I really wouldn't have to come in every day - but it would be a place for files, books, and the occasional client meeting.
My online survey for my thesis research is going AMAZINGLY WELL!!! I have about 50 responses from individuals and 25 from communities. I was really hoping for about a half dozen.... So I am certainly happy with what I've gotten. I estimate the entire population of individuals at 600, so having nearly 10% responding is great! That should really help in writing that section of the paper. The search for a praxis opportunity is proving more difficult, however, I've talked to a number of people who have been very helpful in giving advice and providing leads, but so far nothing workable.
Well, I'll keep settling in and probably figure on posting about twice a month rather than once a week... at least for the present.

Peace,
Amy

...Jiggety Jig

2009-07-17T14:32:00.004+01:00

Home again, home again, jiggety jig! I arrived in STL at 7:10 on an earlier flight - COOL! Oh, it was hot enough mind you, but cool that it was early. I left my place in Leuven a little before 7:00am local time and made it to the station in good time. I was a little concerned about the luggage - two on wheels and one stacked - but I made it just fine. I go to the airport without a hitch and got checked in and proceeded to nap at the gate. I was trying to get to the mind set of STL time - where it would have been mid-night. All was uneventful. The planes were not full, so I was able to spread out - to Dublin and between Dublin and Chicago - which was VERY nice. I was supposed to have a 4 hour lay over in Chicago (having been bumped from the flight I booked). But in the end, I was able to catch that earlier flight, and was into STL at 7:10pm. Mom and Dad met me at the airport, and brought me to Carondelet where I've been ever since. I had tied together several bundles and I was a little concerned about how they would weather the trip, but they came through just fine. Whew!

I have a TODO list that seems to be working against me. I check off one thing, and several more seem to appear. At that point, I figure it is time for another nap. I am more or less up to date with the legal stuff (ministry, clients, etc). I have a few more Leuven things to resolve. And then just a lot of little stuff.

I will stay here at Carondelet for a few weeks. I'm working on living / working arrangements, knowing that my outside work will be somewhat limited in the near term. I'm also greeting lots of folks and catching up, etc. It's good to be back and especially to have a little time to adjust and ease into my next major task, which will be working on my thesis for Canon Law. I'm writing on Transfer to Another Religious Community. I am collecting data with an online survey. That has been going REALLY WELL. I have about 5% of the population of transfers who have already responded online. That is AWESOME and will provide really good information for my thesis.

It's good to be back, and so far I haven't had time to miss Leuven, but then it does seem strange that folks here insist on speaking english....

Peace,
Amy

Back from Wales

2009-07-07T18:35:00.002+01:00

Retreat in Wales - Lovely! Made my way over on the train, then by taxi for the last few miles from the station. The setting is incredibly beautiful and it was just a wonderful week. I managed one day to stroll over to Pantasaph - Thompson's old stomping grounds. No plaques, but several people I talked to had heard of him. All in all a great week. I took off at about 9am Monday, and had a 5 hour lay over in London - I managed to make it to Thompson's grave site. (are you seeing a pattern here) Then when on a quest for fish and chips. Unfortunately that event got rained out, I made my way back to the station feeling a bit like a fish myself - pouring rain!!! Made good connections in Brussels and made it back to Leuven for my last week here. Great great week. Now I'm busy with all the details of settling things for next year, tying up loose ends and packing. I'll be somewhere over the Atlantic in a week this time.
Amy

Make Way for the Queens Guard

2009-06-28T07:00:00.002+01:00

Did London - lots of cool stuff from the movies - Disney should take note. We managed to happen on Buckingham Palace when some marching bands were out, and then on the Horse Guard when they were changing the guard - lots of ceremony, stomping and flashing of sabers. All very British.
Anne Rutter, one of the British CSJs showed me around and kept saying that so much had changed from her student days - some 30 or 40 years ago. I'm with the sisters here in Morden - they are lovely. Wimbleton is on - you would think it was the world series or something the way they go on about it.
Oh, I think I committed a little cultural blunder when I was trying to point out where I saw a sign for the underground we were looking for: it's there, I said, by that pile of rocks. Oh, you mean the old wall, said she. Oops....
Anyway, great weather, lots of folks, lots of history. I'm also finding all the sites from my buddy Francis Thompson. Things aren't quite as I pictured. More of London today, then on to Wales tomorrow.
Peace,
Amy

Getting Very Close....

2009-06-22T11:12:00.003+01:00

It won't be much longer now. The photo at the left is a little tike who came in to disturb our choir practice.... We were thoroughly distracted as you see.
I have a canon law exam and theology thesis defense this week, and a paper to turn in on Friday. I take off Saturday for retreat. I'll spend the weekend with a CSJ friend in London, before taking the train to Rhyl (pronounced "rail") in North Wales. In my absense, I should get the final results from my programs this year - I should get the Masters in Theology. I'm hoping there will be a computer somewhere in Wales where I can log in and check on that.
Then I return to finalize things here. Back in Leuven whatever time I have available I will get over to the library and make sure I have enough to read for the next year. Awesome library. I will definitely miss it. I have a list of people to see, and things that need to be done before I take off on July 14.
So far the first weekend back in the US I have scheduled for a Girls Weekend with family. I will have CSJ assembly at the end of the month. I may try to crash a meeting in New Orleans to publicize my survey for my thesis. But that still remains to be seen. That would be around mid-August.
I have to be back in Leuven from around Feb 20 - March 10, 2010. There will be some workshops and hopefully thesis defense.
Peace,
Amy

Villers-la-Ville

2009-06-14T15:10:00.005+01:00

I took advantage of the two days of sunshine - the first in a long time - to take a short one hour trip to Villers-la-Ville, touted as some of the best ruins of a monastery around.
I has seen the site from the train when coming back from the airport a few weeks ago, and decided it would be one of my next trips. I have a big book of places to visit in Belgium - and I usually have several places that I have plans to visit. Once I visit them, then I flip through the book and find other places. Belgium is only about 1/3 the size of Missouri, and I'm located pretty centrally. So you figure I cant be more than a few hours from anywhere. This photo that I found online shows how close the tracks come to the site of the ruins. It was good to get out for the walk and the day was simply gorgeous!!!
Well, we passed the site on the train, and kept going and going, and finally stopped at the 'station' in town. Just a few lights and booths along side the tracks. I had to retrace all that way (about 4km) to get to the abbey. It was pretty cool. A real fixer-upper, but you can see how the layout was, and the grounds are nice. There were a few tour groups there. I kept running into this German group. There was another group that had a boom box with chant-type music. They would settle in a place and put on the music. Then there were families, etc. I have some pics of the inside - I'll be home soon enough, and will be happy to share photos of the whole experience.
Otherwise all is well. My cold is mild, but tenacious; it is still with me. I have three exams this week, plus a dentist, a lunch meeting, and whatever else comes up. I've started 'clearing out' but not yet packing. I'll probably save the bulk of that for when I come back from retreat - I'll have a week. I do have a list though, and I've settled that I'll probably try to take all the clothes and books I can manage on the plane, then pick up the rest when I come back next spring to finish up.
See you soon!
Amy

Studying .... and fighting a cold....

2009-06-10T18:04:00.007+01:00

This is my diagram for my exam tomorrow - I came down with some bug, so I wake up study a little, get tired and go back to bed. This should make for an interesting exam season.
Peace,
Amy
Running results (exit polls)
- Medieval Mysticism LC - Great
- History of Spirituality - Low pass (I blame the above mentioned cold)
- Law of Persons - June 15 - Great
- Eastern Canon Law - June 17 - Good
- Latin Codex - June 18 - Good
- Sacramental Law - June 23 - Exam Canons 834-1054
- Thesis Defense - June 24

A Day in the Life....

2009-06-04T16:47:00.003+01:00

I'm coming to the end of my time in Leuven, and I've managed to learn how to manage exam time finally. So I guess that means it's time to move on. In the past exam time has been hard because I'm pretty much on my own, and I don't have the chance to get out and interact. This time I've fixed myself a schedule. I get out to the library in the morning, a little after it opens at 8:30am. I study there till about 1:00pm, which is more or less when I need some lunch, and my computer battery is worn down. The nice thing about this is I usually meet someone over there that I know, and most of us are a little starved for human contact, so we end up chatting a little. How's it going... papers... exams... success!!!! (that's the local way of saying good luck, all the best, etc.)
My latest project is to develop a little online survey to help gather information for my thesis in canon law for next year. You can check it out if you like: click here.
So today I was at the library and a Chinese student came by and asked if I could go over the english on a paper he was handing in. I did that - then he took me to lunch - mmmm..... So over lunch we caught up on his plans and my plans. Some of you will remember John from Beijing. He is here doing theology, still discerning about priesthood. He told me stories about his family back in China, and some of the difficulties with religion and the government.
After this, it was cold, so I decided not to go on my after lunch bike ride, and just to head home. I studied a little more. Then decided to head out for a cup of coffee at Pangaea, the international coffee shop - a usually daily affair, though I usually have it at lunch. There I met Casper - a Brother of St. Joseph from Benin. We decided a long time ago that we're all in the St. Joe clan, so we're family. He is always delightful, and we chatted for a while. Then I was off for my bike ride; I was dressed warmer at this point.
Now I'm back at my place. It being spring, all the construction has started. They are renovating two buildings right next to mine. As part of this project, they parked a dumpster right outside my window. Those who have been here can testify that I actually reach out my window and touch the dumpster. Another casualty of the construction is my bike parking place. I have my bike parked inside now - quite normal in Belgium actually.
Do pray for me over the next few weeks. I'll have exams and thesis defense. I'm not worried about any of them at this point. But it is always good to have a few extra prayers. Most of this is scheduled - see post below. I still don't know when I defend my thesis - which is only a problem because I they might schedule when I have something else, and I'll have to negotiate times, etc, etc. Other than that, I'm starting to wind down and make lists and go through things I think I won't need any more. And make more lists.... Okay, I better get back to the books. I have to figure out a Medieval dispute between Gerson and Ruusbroec. Oh, last time I posted my notes and some folks seemed to enjoy that. If you want to know what my classes are this time, they are Online . The ones marked Theo 2b or CL2b are the ones I'm taking this semester (2b = second year, second semester).
Peace,
Amy

P.S. The baby is Justina, daughter of Yuriy and Mariana.

CSJ Czech Republic

2009-05-29T13:58:00.003Z

Last weekend, I accepted the invitation from the Chambery CSJs to visit their community in Plzen, about 1 hour from Prague by bus. I arrived Saturday morning and spent the day kicking around Prague, doing the tourist stuff. Lots of old stuff, LOTS of people. The biggest impression is that I couldn't read ANY of the signs - AT ALL. At least most of the other places I've been, I could make out the signs and more or less make my way around. But not here. In addition, English is not widely spoken, although in the more touristy places, someone will be able to communicate.
They had very pretty countryside, and the weather was awesome the entire time I was there. I understand there was a storm the day after I left. Ah well....
The three sisters have been there about 15 years. There is one other community in Czech republic. The CSJs were the first community in Plzen after the fall of communism. The area is not very Catholic, or very religious at all. Nevertheless, there are 'cultural' signs of Catholicism: churches, crosses, etc. The sisters remarked how there had been a great improvement in living conditions since they arrived, better housing, better access to goods and services, etc. There was a big poster on one of the buildings naming the "three liars" Marx, Engels, and Stalin.
The sisters were absolutely wonderful, one is a nurse, the other two are teachers, all about my age. They were very helpful and explained a lot about the differences and the culture, etc. On Sunday after Mass, we went around Plzen, of Pilsner fame for the beer lovers. One wonderful place was a Meditation Garden built by a guy, during communism. It has these wonderful stations of the cross that are really meaningful - showing God's love and care for the world - the dedication plaque says to the victims of evil. And then we tried to find a typical Czech place to eat, but failing that, we found an italian place. But we did have Czech pancakes - kind of like crepes - with ice cream for dessert. Mmmm.... Monday, the third sister, who had been away took me to a wonderful country estate, a castle, the oldest church in the area - a cute little round one up a steep hill, and to some other sites nearby. One thing about European towns is that the cities are pretty compact, and the country is always very close by. Apparently under communism, each family used to have a little cottage in the country with a garden. This still carries on, so that on the weekend EVERYONE leaves for their cottage, and the town was pretty deserted. Not to worry though, by Monday everyone was back.
I flew home on Tuesday, bus, bus, plane, bus, train, train, to Leuven. It was a great trip, and a great opportunity to connect with our sisters in Eastern Europe. Now I'm working on studying for exams. A group of canon law students got together to go over one class - it was WAY more fun than working alone, and we got a lot done as well. I'm taking a break from history of spirituality to write this. Still one more study week before exams start in June.
Peace,
Amy

End of an Era

2009-05-21T15:12:00.007Z

Tuesday, one of our two full time Canon Law professors taught his last class after 34 years of teaching at KU Leuven. I wasn't in the class, but the few available canon law students crashed the class at the end. The picture is of that class which is pretty male / clerical as you can see. This is mainly the theology students who want to take a class in canon law. The guys in collars are American seminarians. (Don't ask....)
After class, the prof took us to the little cafe across from the theology building where most of our classes are held. I made the picture - my foot is at the right....
I had a few more theology classes Wednesday, and now we're off for Ascension and then studying for exams. I turned in my Thesis last Monday. I had really good luck printing it out - I thought I would be in the copy shop for hours, but I just happened in during a lull and was in and out in about 15 minutes. Awesome!!!
Because I have so many exams and papers, I had to make myself a chart to make sure I get everything done and show up for all the appropriate exams. 10 different papers for a total of about 100 pages worth of writing, in addition to my thesis and 8 exams. So far I'm nearly finished with the papers, and I've done two exams - language exams are earlier than the others. So just six exams to prepare for. Two will be pretty information intense, the others are more formalities; I'll study, but they should be fine. Here's the list:
- Medieval Mysticism LC - June 8 - Exam
- History of Spirituality 0 June 11 - Exam
- Law of Persons - June 15 - Exam Canons 204-339
- Eastern Canon Law - June 17 - Exam
- Latin Codex - June 18 - Exam
- Sacramental Law - June 23 - Exam Canons 834-1054
Prayers appreciated. Most exams are in the morning, so you'll have to say a prayer the night before, because by the time you get up, it will all be over. I don't have a date yet for thesis defense, but they are usually in the last week. I actually haven't heard much about that, but it shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure I can manage to worry about it though

English is Simplified French.... and other gems

2009-05-07T13:11:00.006Z

No kidding, some dude voiced this opinion. A native dutch speaker who learned French, then English. So now you know....
I worked a few hours at the international coffee shop today. When I arrived and it was not open, I either had to go home without coffee - or volunteer to open it up and make some coffee and run the counter for an hour or so. So I settled in and studied French - I have an exam tonight. In between I served customers, in French, Dutch, Spanish and English. Merci, Alstublieft, Gracias, Thanks, Tag!, Salut! The routine is you start in whatever you think is the common language, the other person matches, or changes, and back and forth this way till the transaction is over, or till communication breaks down and you have to renegotiate the language of the exchange. English is pretty universal ... maybe because it is simplified French??? It's usually pretty simple, predictable stuff, but fun try to play the game. Funny thing is that whenever people think I don't speak their language, they tend to switch to French on me, I've been told I have a French accent in both Dutch and Italian. Go figure....
I managed to win a few tax cases (US Tax cases) which is always fun - I mean in the sense of beating the IRS at its own game. But today I won an argument with the guy at the copy shop. It was only 10 cents at issue, but I was delighted that I managed to win it in Dutch. That was worth way more than 10 cents.
For all this, I really don't even begin to match the locals in linguistic skill; the culture is so multi-lingual that they have to be fluent in 3 or 4 languages, just as a basic survival skill. I on the other hand just stick with 'simplified French' most times.
Peace,
Amy

European Ministers of Education in Leuven

2009-04-28T06:32:00.004Z

I've never seen the library empty - but as you see here, the entire library reading room has been cleared to host some sort of event of the EU Ministers of Education for a conference here. Streets blocked off. Protests for or against. Lots of police keeping the various factions at bay. And the best was when I awoke to carillons playing danny boy. I will try to get to the city hall today to justify my continued presence here in Leuven. Not sure what the problem, but I got a letter in dutch. Then I have one class this afternoon. I'll have to wade through the conference and it's attendant protests to get to class. Then I'm meeting with some CSJs this evening for dinner.
For more info on the events here, Click Here.
I might have double counted some points on the Rome entry, but I'm sure everyone deserves the bonuses if there are any.
Peace,
Amy

Canon Law At the Beach

2009-04-24T10:51:00.003Z

I'm at Oostende, in the west coast of Belgium, for a canon law conference. It is a gorgeous day - and therefore it is a shame to be inside. Anyway, so far it hasn't been that bad (the canon law) and I hope to get to the seaside this afternoon - we have a break of one hour, so hopefully that will be possible.
I need to download some of my pictures from Italy and post them. Fausto took me for a lunch with friends out in the country, then over to see his family. Then gave me some fresh olive oil from a vat that he had there, from his own olive trees. Awesome!!!
This past week, we had a French professor from Strasbourg teaching History of Canon Law, which could be quite a drag, but this is one of the best Canon Law professors we have had. He is really interesting and enthusiastic, and has a charming French accent. He gets positively giddy about some dude that discovered some 12th century manuscripts of canon law a few years ago. So that has been really good.
We have more history of canon law next week, we'll see how that guy is. Well, off to lunch.
Peace,
Amy

Earthquake - Terremoto

2009-04-06T06:47:00.001Z

All is well here - I felt the earthquake Sunday night that was rated 3 here in Rome, and 6.3 at the epicenter abotu 200 miles away. Just wanted to let folks know that it's cool, but be sure to say a prayer for the folks in L'Aquila, lots of destruction and some loss of life, lots are homeless. There is also some concern for rescue efforts because of possible damage to the bridges into the mountainous area.

Peace,
Amy

Me and the Pope at Church

2009-04-05T13:38:00.007Z

This is a bunch of my good friends at church. I went with some CSJs from Chambery. We ended up just under where you see the camera stand at the right, and the pope got a pretty good seat too.
--Amy

Seriously Old Stuff

2009-04-04T07:44:00.002Z

There is a lot of old stuff here - I mean seriously OLD. I think living here must make a person think that the world never changes, so you don't need to change either. And if you think differently, give it another hundred years, and if you're still around, we'll check into it.
Seriously, just walking along the road over to the Vatican gives a lot of insight into Romanità. I normally don't use accents, but this keyboard makes it easy, so I may have to sprinkle them around just for éffèct.
çiàò à tùtti!
amy

Rome - What to See

2009-03-30T13:58:00.002Z

Okay, this is a points entry. I'll be heading to Rome later this week, and I'm looking for advice on what to see & do, what to avoid - 100 points for all suggestions, 200 points if I actually go where you suggest and like it.

For reference, I will arrive late April 2 and I will leave late late April 14. I will stay with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery about 2 miles from the Vatican. I'm sure they will have information for me about transport, etc. Also, a friend in Leuven lent me a map and travel guide. I already know that Bus 870 will get me to the pope's house.

I'll try to report from there, but I wanted to put this out to see if folks have ideas / travel advice, etc.

Peace,
Amy

Stop this madness!!!!

2009-03-26T19:41:00.002Z

Not sure what it's all about, but this is a student town and we're entitled to our demonstrations. So there are apparently two groups, a right wing group and a left wing group and they are demonstrating tonight. "Manifestatie" as they call it here. And each group has their folks to keep order, and there are TONS of police to assist in this, and I suppose keep the two groups from meeting, or citizens from getting caught in the tangle. Since my French class is on the other side of the main site of the demonstration, I thought I would exempt myself tonight. So far it seems rather tame, but on advice of the locals, I brought my bike inside.
Apparently last time these two groups clashed, they were tossing bicycles at each other - nice. Well, I'm about to call it quits for the night, but I thought I should let you know. I'll post to this same entry tomorrow to give the impressions.
Peace, Amy

What are the chances?!?!?

2009-03-24T11:10:00.002Z

Okay, here we are mid semester. It's the day before the feast of St. Joseph and I was talking to a guy about what my plans were (and were not) for the big day. Turns out R. Burke chose the 19th to show up and give a talk on "Mary and the Civilization of Love" - brings a tear to my eye.

Then another student piped up and said she thought all the festivities around the event were for her - as she was a Sister of St. Joseph - from New Zealand!!! NO WAY!!! What are the chances that two St. Joes show up in the same class in Belgium, each from another continent, and it takes us two months to connect. We're actually in two classes together, but we only had a short chat. We'll talk more I'm sure.

I met with Anne Rutter, an Anecy CSJ from England - we had lunch together Saturday and kicked around Brussels for a while. We almost had a plan together for her to show me a little of London and Wales - till she looked at her calendar and saw that she was booked for that time period. I will try to get to London a day or two before my retreat. I can stay with her and see a little, then head out for retreat. Then I'll be taking the train most of the way across England to North Wales, so that will be interesting as well.

Things are humming along - I'm starting to think about my trip to Rome for spring break - I'll be staying with the CSJs there, and visiting some friends and of course the sites. So stay tuned for news of that adventure. Once I get back, the pace of things will pick up for the last part of the semester and exams, etc. But for now, I can sure use the break - I'm finding it harder and harder to settle down and get anything done.

Peace,
Amy

Happy Feast of St. Joseph

2009-03-18T09:40:00.003Z

Well, I haven't figured out yet how to celebrate, but I have a CSJ friend in Brussels, and we'll get together on the weekend. I could go down to the south of Leuven where Bishop Burke is giving a talk - yes, that's our friend from St. Louis. He's talking about Mary and the "civilization of love." Maybe it's better I don't go. Maybe I'll call some CSJ types back home. Or even in Gulu. We'll see.

Things are humming along - my semicolon-laden treatise is nearly complete. I'm trying to get the volume of Canon Law papers under control. We have about 100 pages to write before the end of the year. Then I'm also trying to start research on next year's thesis. I've also contacted the Judicial Vicar in St. Louis to see about using their library. There's no problem with that.

Some people have asked about the experience of the 'economic meltdown' here. I really haven't noticed much. People talk about it, but I can't say I've noticed any concrete evidence of it. But those who mention it seem to think it's pretty serious. Also, news from the States that I get is that people are feeling pressure.

I think I've put up info about my plans for the summer, but just in case: I will finish exams / thesis defense by the end of the last full week of June. The next Monday I start retreat in Wales - it is the Jesuit place that is 20 miles from where Francis Thompson wrote the poems that I'm writing about for the Theology Thesis. I get back to Leuven on the 8 or 9 of July. By then results are out. And I will pack and tie up LOTS of loose ends, then I fly back to the states July 14. I'll land at Carondelet, then see about where to go next.

The CSJ Assembly is the last few days of July, heading into August. In 2009-2010, I will be still full time in the Canon Law program, but I expect that I will have ample time to get started in law practice again. Canon Law will consist mainly of Thesis writing, an internship, a few workshops in Belgium in the Spring of 2010. I'm not sure all the details, but it shouldn't be too difficult.

Happy Feast of St. Joseph!
Peace,
Amy

Semicolons

2009-03-11T10:54:00.004Z

Yes, semicolons - can you believe I've actually have a running debate on the topic. Get a life! you say - ah, but this is life....

I'm coming to completion on my thesis; I'm very happy about that. The last chapter is written, but still needs polish, and the input of my faithful critics, and then to be submitted. Of course a conclusion is still needed, but that's at least up in my head. Not hard to write. I found two more books on Thompson - confirming a lot that I've already written. These were more recent biographies that have been hard to track down - but ebay finally delivered.

All the writing, has given rise to my current dilemma - I like the semicolon, it's kind of cool when you have the perfect opportunity to stick it in. Warms my heart.

Speaking of a warming trend, the weather here is starting to let up - it's almost solstice - so it's a LOT lighter which is SO welcome. It is still quite chilly, though predictions are for the upper 40s today. I'll be out for my bike ride. I get out most days, unless there is a LOT of rain, which is rare. I pretty much take the same route, about 1/2 hr round trip, usually on the way for my coffee. I have class at 2:00pm today, so I'll head out around 12:30 for a ride, then coffee, then class.

For the next several weeks, we have 'regular' classes here. Then at the start of April, it's spring break, then extra canon law seminars when I get back, then exams, then.... So I'm trying to get papers, thesis, etc settled now, while there's space to breathe.

I have had a few computer snags - lost all my footnotes (over 200 of them) and almost crashed. But thus far, I've managed to recover. I'm saving papers up to the internet, just in case, and backing up to an external disk a few times a week. Hopefully I'm covered.

Well, I better get some lunch and head out for that bike ride.

--Peace,
Amy

News Flash!!!!

2009-03-04T12:12:00.004Z

Just a quick post - I had a meeting with one of the Canon Law professors about next year's program.

1. She is quite confident that they will accept work I did from 2001-2005 at LRCR for and exemption for one internship. Awesome!!! That means I get out of about 20% of next year's program.

2. For the 'judicial' part of the internship, this is the professor who taught me Marriage Law, and she is sort of 'into' that process, so I was a little afraid she would push me in that direction. She was waxing eloquent about the process, etc. Then I pulled out a Justice for Priests brochure, and she was very interested, and said that should easily fulfill the requirement. That should be more helpful to me than marriage cases. This group defends priests who are being railroaded by their bishops. Some should be removed, but this group is just providing the defense necessary to try to keep the process fair.

3. I proposed a topic for my Thesis for next year: Canons 684-685 - Historical, Sociological, Theological and Juridical Analysis. -- a real sleeper you say -- NO it's fascinating!!! It is the process of transferring from one religious community to another. I also asked to have a guy here as my promoter, he seems nice and will probably be interested, etc. I still have to check with him, he's an abbot they pulled in to do our course on religious law. If this is acceptable, I can glean what I can from our library here before I head back to the states. That will be a help.

Okay, that's all the good news. In other news, I managed to get a cold - not too bad yet, but it's the first time I've had any of the bugs that are going around, so as I told one guy, it's about time I paid my dues. Also, I took a tumble off my bike - the gears sometimes stick and the pedals slip and the pavement leaps up at me. It's all very frightening. I knocked my knee pretty bad - it is numb - if it weren't, I think it would hurt, because it is sort of swollen - skinned, etc. I need to bring my bike in to have the gears checked before I break something....

All for now.

Peace,
Amy

Strawberries in February

2009-03-03T06:54:00.003Z

You've got to love a place that can manage to have strawberries in February - spring is in the air, flowers are popping up, it was still light at 6:30 yesterday when I got out of class. And people are heaving a sigh of relief that the "long cold winter" is finally coming to an end. -- I don't have the heart to tell them they 'ain't seen nothin'.

Most days in the early afternoon, I try to take a bike ride - I have a few favorite routes, but usually it is to Park Abbey south of Leuven - I know there's a photo later on on the blog. Then it's usually to the coffee shop, and on to class or library.

Last week, we had lots of extra lectures on teaching religion around the world, canon law and civil law considerations: China, Belgium, Poland, etc. We have a paper some related topic. Thankfully, I published an article a few years ago that should do nicely. I'll just have to adapt for international audience, but the research should still be good.

Thursday is the Feast of the Theology Faculty - big Mass - classes canceled - unfortunately, I only have canon law classes that day, they are still being held.

Happy Spring!!!!
Amy

Quick Post

2009-02-21T08:55:00.002Z

Just a quick post for all you out there in the "blogsphere." I've been busy at work, doing all the things I do: Canon Law, Theology, Papers. I finally got all the results from first semester which was good. They did seemingly loose one application for the STB - so that could be problematic since my timing on that is a little tight, but it's really just a bonus thing, and if you're asking yourself what it is, or what it means, that just proves my point, that there is no point. Glad we got that settled!
I went to Arlon last weekend, but my camera is too full to pull down the pictures. It's a pretty little berg in the very southern tip of Belgium. Mom and I had a plan to go there when she was here - it's about a 2.5 hr train ride, and it was a lovely day. The Ardennes are the 'mountains' in southern Belgium, and they were lovely. You should see the pictures!!! The town is lovely, the church is REALLY well kept, and there's one church up at the top of a hill that affords a lovely view of the surrounding landscape. Lots of stairs up and down.
Next week we have about 20 hrs of extra classes in Canon Law, but we just got word that one whole day will be in Dutch - with no translation, so if our Dutch isn't up to speed, we don't have to come. I couldn't really even make out the titles, but I think its something about religious education in Flanders. I have a feeling my Dutch won't be up to the challenge. :-)
That's all for now, just wanted to check in.
Peace,
Amy

Winding Down of Semester Break

2009-02-08T18:38:00.006Z

Mom and Dad are winding up their visit here - it has been great and we've gone around a bit and visited, etc.

Classes start tomorrow and this semester will have lots of Canon Law, some of it will be by visiting lecturers and they are generally good. I also have some interesting Theology classes, and of course my thesis that is coming along well.

My usual schedule will be
Monday: Latin and French
Tuesday: Law of Persons and History of Religious Life
Wednesday: French Reading and Mysticism in the Low Countries
Thursday: Sacraments and French

There will be 6 weeks when there are concentrated canon law classes, the weeks of Feb 23, Mar 2, Apr 20 & 27, May 11 & 18.

Spring break will be the first two weeks of April - around Easter. I'll be visiting the CSJs in Rome and seeing the sights there that week.

Today is Mom & Dad's last full day here - Mom and I went to visit an old monastery near Leuven. We went out by bus and walked around and even met some black sheep there.

Geneva

2009-02-02T16:22:00.004Z

Just a quick post to let you know we arrived safely in Geneva and did a little walking around - here's a photo to prove it. We're here for a few days before heading back to Belgium. Dad went to England, where they have apparently had record snow.

Peace,
Amy

Mom and Dad's Visit

2009-02-01T16:39:00.002Z

Mom and Dad arrived Wednesday morning and we've been doing some visiting around. The picture here is the market square in Tienen, the next town up the tracks. It has been VERY cold, but we've had some nice sunshine which is a welcome change.

Tomorrow, Mom and I head out to Geneva for a few days, we have Swiss roots. And Dad will go to England to visit an aviator friend. On Saturday, we went to Brussels. Dad met Hervé, an engineering friend there, he seems to have had a delightful time. We all had lunch together, then his daughter Beatrice took us on a walking tour of Brussels - very interesting and enjoyable - thought cold. She was a UN translator, and is now the English language reporter for finance in a local news journal. She was delightful and an interesting tour guide.

We did church on Sunday, including a baptism, and the departure of a long-time parish member. After church we went for lunch with a Chinese student who loves to cook. Yummy!!!

It is a nice break from classes. This whole next week is free - I actually also had most of last week free since I had already finished my exams. However, I still did some french, some writing and some work on next year's internships.

All the best - stay warm!!!

Peace,
Amy

Of Friends and Folly

2009-01-27T11:59:00.004Z

Yes, it happens! Just a momentary click as the latch seats securely, and the deed is done. You're locked out. AGAIN!!!

I've prided myself so far in my Leuven adventures that I've managed to lock myself out only when the landlord's office (around the corner) was opened. Such good fortune for bad luck. But that has all come to an end. Let me tell you the story of a girl named Amy on a tragic and fateful day.... (feel free to hum along.)

Let me tell you the story
Of a girl named Amy
On a tragic and fateful day
She put ten euro in her pocket,
Locked the door and set out
Went to ride on her velo bike

Amy set off for French class
At the CLT in Leuven
And she turned on to Dekenstraat.
When she got there something funny told her,
"I forgot my key."
Amy couldn't get home that night.

Chorus:
Did she ever return,
No she never returned
And her fate is still unlearn'd
She may ride forever
'round the streets of Leuven
She's the girl who never returned.

Now all night long
Amy rides through the city
Crying, "What will become of me?
How can I afford to tell
My friends here in Leuven
that I am locked out AGAIN?"

Amy's friends aren't home
But she knows the sitter (Gabrielle)
And thank God she let her in
And through the open window
She tells Amy stay with me
I've a mattress and a sleeping bag.

Chorus

Next morning just a short ride
To the landlord's office
Thinking, "Surely he'll have a key."
When she got there the poster told her,
"Our Office is moved south.
You can see me in Heverlee."

Back on the bike -
Head for Arenbergplein,
The Landlord has just come in.
"We've just moved in, and it's chaos,
I can't find your key here
It must be back in Leuven-stad."

Chorus

Just one more tragedy
On the way back to Leuven
On this tragic and fateful day
Her brake gave out at Grote Markt
Had to be repaired
And she walked on to Willemsstraat

Now you citizens of Leuven
Don't you think it's a scandal
That the people have to ride and ride
And fight the memory decrease
Vote for George O'Brien!
Get poor Amy off the velo bike.

Chorus:
Or else she'll never return,
No she'll never return
And her fate will be unlearned
She may ride forever
'round the streets of Leuven
She's the girl who never returned.

Exams Over - Thanks for Prayers

2009-01-26T17:31:00.003Z

January is almost over!!!! Exams are over, I'm chilling a bit and trying to do some work on papers so that I can enjoy Mom and Dad's visit. I am pretty satisfied with exams, except one question on one of them - there always has to be something....

My paper on Thompson is coming along - I have it probably about half written. I would like to get it pretty well completed by March since I'll be quite busy with Canon Law things as the semester rolls on. Thanks to Julie for reading this for me - if there are any proofers out there in blog land who would be willing to proof read a chapter or so, let me know. Another set of eyes always helps. I also have a paper on Eastern Canon Law - I've started researching and will probably write on the place of Monasticism in the Eastern Church. It will have to be long!!! But it's more technical, so it should go quick enough.

It's starting to get more light, which is wonderful. The sun was high enough to come in my window - I haven't seen the sun, or seen it in my window for a while - so that's a good sign.

I've booked my flight for Rome for spring break. I'll stay with the CSJs there, and there should be lots to see, they are pretty much in the middle of things. I'll be there for Easter so it should be pretty interesting.

Other than that, things are humming along. Exam time is always a challenge because everyone is off studying and there isn't much socializing, but we're coming to the end of that and once Mom and Dad go, classes will already have started. In fact I think I'll have to skip some classes to get them to the airports - so sad....

Peace,
Amy

One Down

2009-01-18T17:02:00.003Z

This is the place I just rode to on my bike - Abdij van 't Park. Or Park Abbey for short. There is a great bike path from my place out there and back - about 30 minutes round trip. I've been wanting to start biking a little more - beyond just functionally getting from place to place, so today - just before dusk - I took off for a nice ride.

I had my salvation exam - sounds like the last judgment, doesn't it. But anyway it went well I thought. So I've been studying for the next two: temporal goods and vatican II - they will be more technical / factoidal. But not too bad. Those will be Jan 23.

In between I've been chipping away at my thesis and thoroughly enjoying that. I will have lots to do in April / May with canon law, so I'm hoping to get the thesis more or less out of the way before that. So I have a sort of routine to work on the thesis in the morning, then study for exams in the afternoon. I have managed to completely forget some evening things since I'm out of the regular routine. Oops.

There is a lot less interaction / socialization during exam time - so I really need to make an effort to get human contact. I go out at least once a day, usually to the library for a while, then to the coffee shop. I usually see people I know at one or the other place - that helps.

I've also been putting some effort into making contacts for my internships for next year. Some leads, but nothing definite yet. I was hoping for the Vatican's office for religious - but they said no. I'm also thinking of putting together a proposal for an exemption one of them - that would be great if I could get that - but we'll see. Anyway, this takes some initiative and contacting new people, etc.

I also have Mom and Dad scheduled to come next week. I'll be finished with exams, and have a few days off before they arrive. We don't have many definite plans, but Dad is going to visit a friend in England while Mom and I go to Switzerland for a few days. Mom is part Swiss, and has never been there - so that should be a treat for both of us. We'll fly to Geneva, then we have a sort of plan at some point to grab a train out to another town - through the alps, -- how cool is that!!!

So prayers for exams / papers are appreciated, but I'm pretty relaxed about it at this point.

Peace,
Amy

The Return of the Belgian Snow Cat

2009-01-11T07:44:00.003Z

My brother Tom left on Thursday - before he left, he posed with the Snow Cat that was erected on our street. No explanation, but given the temperatures, the cat has stayed around for a while.

I have to get serious now - exams start Jan 12 - I have one that day and two more on Jan 23. I'm pretty much ready for the one tomorrow - it shouldn't be bad. I have some reading to do for the ones on Jan 23, those too should be manageable. In between I'm working on my thesis - and continuing to enjoy that. Classes still aren't scheduled for the second semester of Canon Law - so I'm not yet sure how that will go. ... in time....

This will be a fairly quiet time - the Flemish students aren't back in town - studying at home probably. And I will only have to go to school on the days when there are exams. So won't meet many other students. I've discovered one of the purposes of classes is socializing.

I went to the coffee shop on Saturday - but didn't meet anyone I knew. But at times like these, skype is a great tool. I called some folks back in the states and it was great to connect and hear news and even just a friendly voice.

We've had snow on the ground here for a week - a complete rarity for Belgium - even the locals say so. The temperature doesn't fluctuate much, and it's been just below freezing for the whole week - hence we still have snow. I'm trying to remember what the Ugandan sunshine felt like - and having people around all the time. It helps.

Well, all prayers are appreciated for exams and papers.
Peace,
Amy

Back in Leuven

2009-01-03T12:27:00.005Z

We had several days to visit various people - Tom did lots of interviews on video and took lots of pictures. I took some, but not nearly as many. We went to Amuru, the town where the CSJs are hoping to settle. The Mass there was amazing - lots of lively singing, a group of dancers and a VERY packed church. The people were VERY friendly as they have been everywhere we went in Uganda. Just wonderful people. They have been living in camps with the grass roofed houses very close together. They normally live in the same type of house, but spread out with their fields and gardens in between. That makes life much more normal.
But they gathered in the camps for safety, and sometimes at the demand of the government - thus forcing them to abandon their farms, and their only source of lifelihood. The greater peace of the last year or so has given some the impetus to begin moving back to their villages and their land. However, this has been somewhat put in question by recent surge in violence. The situation is quite complicated, you'll have to get some more information from the video that Tom took, but I'm sure there is a lot more than he could capture on tape. Anyway - pray for the people there - wonderful people, but the violence has made life very tough for them.
I managed to fall coming home from a party after dark and I injured my foot - that slowed me down a bit, but I'm better now.
It took a day to drive down from Gulu to Kampala. There were errands to do in Kampala, but Tom and I managed to get to the Shrine of the Uganda Martyrs during the day. We left early for the airport - I was still on crutches - people were SO nice - crutches is definitely the way to travel. We got a wheelchair to navigate the airport in London. I think we went from the plane half-way across London, then back to the same gate for the next plane. So it was good having the wheelchair - Tom managed to skitter along beside. We had checked most of the luggage, so it worked quite well. When we boarded the last plane, the attendant directed us to the first two seats in first class - the plane was nearly empty.
We made it back to Leuven about 8:30pm, but we didn't stay up to ring in the new year. All the best to everyone for a blessed and peacefilled New Year!
--Amy

Lions and monkeys and giraffes! Oh my!!!

2008-12-24T12:58:00.003Z

We went out to an animal park here in Gulu - Amazing. The auxiliary bishop here grew up in the park - his father was a park ranger. AMAZING. We saw all sorts of animals that we've all seen in pictures - but they were wandering around in these huge ranges. We got lots of interesting stories. Really enjoyable and amazing. We have had really good weather - warm in the afternoon, but quite pleasant in the mornings and evenings.

We will have Mass on Christmas, then spend the day with the sisters, we have pictures to share, and I brought some Christmas music and we've planned a meal. I'll be making a tropical fruit salad. All locally grown!

We had our lunch on the banks of the Nile both days we were in the park - Yes, that is the banks of the NILE!!! Amazing.

It has been interesting culturally - lots to think about, lots to process. How can we help in ways that are helpful. Not an easy question, the problems are complex. I think probably education and healthcare are the two primary things that would help for long term sustainability and development. Some of that is a matter of infrastructure, there are generally folks trained as teachers and healthcare professionals, but there isn't always money to pay them. So they may have to run a farm to have enough to eat. And of course peace would really be helpful. There has been a sense of peace for the last two years, after 20 years of war - attacks by rebels. Now the people are beginning to get back to normal, return to their land and rebuild their lives. But the peace is somewhat tentative. So prayers would be helpful.

So much to tell! I'll have more later, but wanted to give some news now. I'll sign off now and wish everyone a blessed and peaceful Christmas.

Peace,

Amy

In Gulu!!!

2008-12-18T12:29:00.002Z

Tom and I arrived in Gulu last evening. We left Leuven by train about 2:45pm for the airport; Left Brussels 6:40, having caught an earlier flight that was delayed to the time of our original flight which had been cancelled. That brought us to London. We left London 9:00pm and arrived Entebbe 8:40 the following morning. I slept a little, Tom slept more.

The sisters met us there at the airport. We did some errands with them in Kampala - and had lunch there. Then about 1:30pm we started the trip north by car to Gulu. It took about 5 1/2 hours. The countryside is really lovely. We crossed the Nile which at this point was running east west. There were lovely falls, then we met some Gorillas on the other side of the Nile.

The sisters are just lovely, the people here are VERY friendly and have warmly welcomed us. I'm staying with the sisters and Tom is staying at the cathedral rectory. We had our first Gulu meal (not counting breakfast). It was very good.

We have pictures, but we're at an internet cafe, so we're maximizing online time and will arrange for pictures later on. I've gotten a lot already. Hard to believe we're really here. It is warm, but comfortable so far.

I'll try to post again when I can - Christmas Blessings! Peace, Amy

I did it!

2008-12-09T10:45:00.002Z

Ik heb en afsprak met de tandarts over de telephonje in nederlands verandered!!!! It's true!!! - Okay, I've managed to do a little speaking of Dutch in the market, etc. but I've been reluctant to try Dutch over the phone because of it's harder to hear and figure out what is going on. But today I did it! I was so proud. We'll have to see if the time I wrote the same date as they did.

All is good here - busy, winding up classes, and getting exams scheduled. I think my papers are ready. I still have a meeting on my thesis - which is going really well. Tom comes in a few days and we'll still have a few preparations to make, then we take off next week - oh - exactly a week from today.

Hopefully we'll have a chance to connect with the blog with information, but I'm not sure how often that will be. You know what a ludite Tom is.... :-)

Blessed Advent and Christmas.
--Amy

Aachen, Amsterdam, Gent, Brussels ... and Leuven

2008-12-04T06:55:00.004Z

What a great visit I had when Barb came over. We saw lots of cities. It was my first time to Amsterdam or anywhere in the Netherlands. Interesting place. They deliberately build their buildings crooked (leaning over the street) so they can lift furniture up through the windows. Who would have thought...???

Aachen was great - it's just over the border into Germany, and they already had their Christmas Market up and running. That was fun, we also saw the Cathedral and the town hall and the standard stuff. It was raining A LOT last time I was in Aachen, so it was nice to see it in the sun, though it was quite cold. We had coffee and pastries in a little coffee shop, and then did some shopping for household items. The story has to be told in person - you'll have to ask Barb, we laughed and laughed.

Gent is one of my favorite Belgian city of mine - I recommend it over Brugge - where everyone else has been. I like the folks dancing on the top of a facade - see right - and a friend described it as magical. It has lots of cool old castle-like buildings in fairly close proximity. I lost my gloves, so after we discovered it, we walked back to the probably place of loosing - and sure enough they were there sitting on a table, so I would see them if I came back. There was something we didn't see in Gent, but I dont' remember what it was.

One day, Barb came to my Vatican II class, and French class - so she got a taste of that. She also took part in the Sunday liturgy at the parish and sung in the choir. I also got to run some of my literary theories by her, since she has a background in that. I'm thoroughly enjoying my thesis, but it helps to be able to talk with literary people since I dont' have much background in that. The last night, we met Anne Rutter a CSJ friend working in Brussels. There we saw the Christmas decorations:

It was quite a treat to have her and share something of life here. Now I'm looking forward to Tom's visit, then Uganda, Exams, etc.

Peace,
Amy

Advent

2008-11-28T21:37:00.003Z

I share here the reflection that I'll be giving at the start of Mass the first Sunday of Advent:

***************

This morning we gather to begin together our celebration of the season of Advent.

We will reflect together this advent on the theme of listening:
this week, we listen with John the Baptist, for John the Baptist, to John the Baptist.

John is one of our best advent guides - he goes to the desert to listen,
to hear the voice of God, the voice of the coming God.
He will urge us to take time from our busy lives and schedules to listen.
to take stock, indeed to examine the quality of our listening.
what are the voices that capture our attention?
what are the sounds that enchant and entice us?
what is the music that resounds in our minds and hearts?
can we hear the voice of our God - coming, calling, loving?

Our opening song will urge us to "look east."
Here in western europe we look east to Bethlehem - the same is true for the americas.
But those of us who come from africa look north to Bethlehem.
- those of us who come from asia & the pacific look west to Bethlehem.
- those of us who come from eastern europe look south to Bethlehem.

It strikes me that if the world all turns to Bethlehem,
we will also turn to each other, seeing each other in Christ.
we turn to each other, in love and service.
we turn easily to brothers and sisters, to family and friends.
in this season we are also invited to turn to strangers and even to enemies,
we listen for the coming of Christ who calls us to love
and we find in christ the courage to love when it is more difficult.

We light the advent candle, the sign of our advent listening.
And we sign "people look east, [and north, and west, and south], the time is near.
"Love our guest is on the way."

Canon Law Weekend

2008-11-19T11:25:00.004Z

It's been a long week!!! Last week was regular, then Thursday through Tuesday, we had intensive canon law classes, 8-9 hrs per day, and some theology sprinkled in between. It was alright, some even interesting.

We went to Oostende, a beach town for Thursday through Sunday. I roomed with a Romanian girl - very nice - we talked a lot. She is orthodox, but taking the canon law program, which is quite interesting in itself. She is working on a paper on 'heresy in art' and so we talked about that and my work with Francis Thompson. We talked about the insanity of the canon law program, and about the canon law system, and Romanian US relations, and whatever. Very interesting. She is here in Leuven with her husband, an orthodox priest, and her little boy of about 5 years old. They arrived in Leuven at the same time as I did. She did law undergrad in Romania, and was looking for something to do here in Leuven while her husband is doing his doctorate. So canon law seemed to be a good match for her. Although she is not sure she'll continue. She had hilarious commentaries on the various personalities and professors. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera, so I won't have a picture with this, but I'll see if I can get a photo at some point.

I did a presentation on religious freedom in USA - well, more or less, it was okay. I managed to bring up all the cases that were quoted later in the weekend from the US. There were a few lawyers there from England and Ireland - all of them were US Supreme Court watchers - grrr.... well, I'm not much help there, although my presentation was on constitutional law. I told them they were allowed to comment, but not to ask questions about which justice said what. Anyway it seemed okay. Pointless, but okay.

By the end of this, my brain was pretty much fried, so I did end up skipping Latin class. :-)

Barb Jennings comes friday. I'll see with her about juggling classes and going around to see stuff. Barb and I will go on a trip to Amsterdam on Saturday - that will be my first time to the Netherlands. We don't have any particular plans, but we'll do church at UPIC, then probably do the Begijnhof on Sunday. Then we'll see if she's ready to strike out on her own. I'll need to do classes on Tuesday for sure. But could probably skip some classes. I've been really good so far, so I'm due for a few skips.

I have most of my shots for Uganda - what happens is that you go to the doc who writes a script for the injections. You walk across the street to the pharmacy and purchase the syringes, made up with vaccine. These you bring back to the doc who administered it herself. I still have to go to the university hospital for the Yellow Fever vaccination. After that, I'll go to Brussels to get a visa, then I'll be set to go.

Tom will come Dec 10, and then we'll leave for Uganda on the 16th.

Peace,
--Amy

Hope was elected tonight!

2008-11-12T18:03:00.002Z

Sunday we had a wonderful first communion celebration for two children who were preparing in Tanzania before they came here to Leuven with their parents, so wanted to make first communion the same day as their class did back home. Wonderful celebration - then John Yimeng invited me over for chinese lunch - yummy!

Just today I got most of my travel immunizations for my trip to Gulu, Uganda over Christmas. I have to go to the University Hospital for the Yellow Fever - I'll try to do that next week. Then I will have to go to the Ugandan embassy for a visa. That's in Brussels - maybe I'll do that when Barb is here, it should be an adventure.

Thank God I'm doing the theology - it takes the lion's share of my time. If it was just Canon Law, I would be going stir crazy. I also have a few legal clients, just to remind me what I'm doing over here in the first place.

I'm spending lots of time on my thesis, which is on the writings of Francis Thompson - which I have always enjoyed. It gives me the chance to read everything he ever wrote - and read related articles as well. Very enjoyable, and spiritually enriching as well.

Tomorrow I will go to Oostende - a city on the belgian coast - for a 4 day canon law seminar. Hopefully it will be bearable - that's about all I can hope from Canon Law.

I have been telling my friends here that if I was 20 years younger, I would give up on law, and switch to theology - now I can almost hear you laughing - that I'm not THAT old. But it's all relative I guess. Anyway, I'm enjoying my theology 'hobby'.

So what are folk's plans for Thanksgiving? Barb Jennings will be here for Thanksgiving - so I'm sure we'll do the best we can - although I'm not sure I'm equipped for turkey. I don't even know if I have class that day. It's not a holiday here of course.

Well, I have to run out to the bank - I spent all my cash for my immunizations - so I'll need to have a little on hand for my trip tomorrow.

Regarding the election - it is amazing to see and hear the African and Asian students response - the Europeans are also happy with Obama. But it is hard to really grasp the symbolic significance - completely out of any policy consideration - of having a person of color elected to lead the most powerful nation in the world. It is 'a small step for man, a giant leap for mankind', perhaps an even more giant leap that going to the moon. Hopefully it will be a promise fulfilled, as one person said: "hope was elected tonight!"

Peace,
Amy

Busted!

2008-11-08T10:28:00.003Z

I got my first Bicycle ticket - 50 euros! Ouch! My tail light was out, and the first I knew of it was the cop pulled up on the bike next to me and seemed to be indicating I should pull over. He was gracious enough to explain in english - although I knew he was displeased with my 'achterlight'. So I was late to choir practice - even later than I would have been. When I told someone I got a ticket, they thought I meant a plane ticket - don't I wish....

All else is humming along, though I'm really busy. Good busy, reading poetry, and such. This is a 4 day weekend, Wapenstilstan - or Armistice to the rest of us. But since it falls on Tuesday, many places are closed on Monday as well, especially since we didn't get All Saints day off this year, since it was on the weekend. This is only my second year here, and already I miss my extra holidays.

Mary Kay Liston will be heading back to the US, we had 3 failed attempts to connect. So close.... But Barb Jennings will be here in two weeks, so that will be nice. She is staying with me, so I'm sure we'll connect.

It is rather amazing to see the reaction of the Europeans and the international students here to the election. They are wildly enthusiastic for Obama and delighted to see he won. It is interesting to see. Some here have said that there has been more interest worldwide over this election than for most. Althought I get the impression that the people on the streets are generally quite well informed and interested in the US political scene. Anyway, every time they congratulate me, I have to tell them that my state has yet to decide, although I understand Missouri has been voted for the winner for the last 100 years. We'll see where we end up now. Anyway, it has certainly been interesting to hear everyone's comments. I've been congratulated a LOT! and people want to know what my reaction is and the US reaction, and how I found out - did I stay up - did I hear the speeches, etc.

This morning I'm in the library - blogging - so no great shakes. But it will be closed for the next three days, so I want to get some things done. I proposed to one professor that I make my own reader (collection of articles) rather than his. Mine will focus on religious life whereas his was on parish and diocesan life. Anyway he agreed, so I was here looking up articles. I proposed the list, then if he OKs it, I'll get reading....

I'm hoping to finalize 3 papers this weekend. They are basically written, but if I can put a few more hours on each, they should be ready to turn in (at exam time). I also want to get a pretty good outline of my Thesis. I'm really enjoying reading everything of Thompson I can find, or get off Ebay. I've also gotten some articles about him that help me situate him in the literary landscape of his time - since I really don't know literature so well. So far, people seem to either love him or hate him for the same reasons: he is intense, packed with imagery, deeply spiritual, non-linear, even chaotic. Okay, I think this is what makes him so awesome. One critic says that he has more damage to the English language than American newspapers....

Here's a LINK to - To a Snowflake - it is a good short introduction, though, it isn't as intense as some of his work.

Okay, that's your inspiration for the week, take care,

Amy

Saints, Souls and Election

2008-11-02T07:39:00.002Z

You know it's November when you have the convergence of Saints, Souls and Elections. Okay, for 100 points - What are other typical November-isms?

All Saints is a national holiday - too bad it falls on Saturday - no shifting to Monday either. We had Mass yesterday - and again today.

It has been quite busy - I have prepared a presentation for a second seminar class. The up side of this is that once the presentation is done, basically I can coast for the rest of the semester. The paper I prepare for the presentation, plus the presentation itself is most of the grade for the course. Then I have to 'participate'. I'm saying that if I make one intervention per class I've covered that one.

So what is my presentation about? Grrr.... Well, it is about the bad old days of pre-Vatican theology, actually 19th century to be more specific. It's a little difficult to say much more than yawn! But then the internet came to the rescue! I found a couple of old theology books on the internet - in "flip book" format. (Go to Internet Archive and search for out of copyright books.) That means you bring up the book, and you when you page down, there is an animated page flip - very cool! So I'll flip around in this dusty old book (on screen of course), and dazzle the audience into thinking that I have said something erudite about ... 'yawn'! And bow out. We'll see how it goes. Actually the guy moderating the seminar is the academic librarian for theology, so I'm hoping I'll score points for bringing up a book that was printed in Leuven, but can't be found in any of the university libraries.

In my salvation class, someone made a comment that justice is related to law - the discussion was on the other side of the class, otherwise I would have lunged in to disabuse them of the notion that law and justice are in any way related.

I think that often law is serving not justice, but injustice. Law is, in the perspective of legal realism, a series of compromises entered into, ostensibly for the common good. However, it is the common good as seen by the legislature – those who are politically powerful, and are often heavily influenced by the economically powerful. As a series of compromises, it often caters easily to the private interests of the rich and powerful, and accommodates the common good to those interests. The interests of the poor and disenfranchised are rarely seriously represented, and even then often only when some power broker can benefit by helping the poor.

As an example, inside the US, there are over 10 million children without adequate food, housing, healthcare or education, including over 40% of all black and hispanic children. Recently the Federal Congress elected to bail out Wall Street – a move that made sense to the rich and powerful. However, from Capitol Hill where they made that decision, it is a short bus ride to a neighborhood where kids are malnourished and uncared for. Solving their problems doesn't make sense to the legislature. Law is in the hands of power and too often is at the service of injustice.

Well, on that cheery note, happy all saints, all souls, and election day.

Peace,
Amy

Subversive did you say?

2008-10-22T15:47:00.004Z

Okay, I'm back online. Lots of reasons for the gap ... some of them true.

All is going super well here. I got an under the table okay to go ahead and try to plan my internships for next year. So I'm contacting folks for that and I should be able to set up something good. Three possibilities I'm pursuing (of which I can do two) are 1. working at the Congregation for Religious in Rome, 2. working with a group that provides canonical defense in the US (canonical public defender), 3. working at a religious congregation's chapter. Hopefully that will come together over the next few months.

I have several trips upcoming - I just found out that the law students here (civil law) are taking a trip to the Hague and will sit in on some proceedings of the international court of justice. Cool! Barb Jennings is planning on coming around Thanksgiving. That will be awesome! There is a student trip to Amsterdam planned when she is here so we'll go there together. We're also going to look into taking a trip down to Le Puy together. Then in December my brother Tom will come and we will travel together to Uganda to spend Christmas with the CSJs in Gulu. I'm sure that will be a very enriching experience. Then in the spring, Mom and Dad are coming at the end of January. We have a few ideas for excursions when they come: Switzerland - my mom is part swiss and has never been, Germany, Dad plans to visit some of his buddies in England, and some other friends here in Belgium. Should be a hoot.

So you ask am I here to study or to play - well, as one student's family said when they sent her off: don't let studies get in the way of your education. Well, I'm certainly getting an education. One think that I notice with my thesis topic (Work's of Francis Thompson, an English Poet): reading poetry and studying canon law take different parts of the brain. I can be very tired of canon law, but still ready to read poetry, and vice versa.

I see some of the new students who are still trying to find their circle of friends, etc. And I really thank God that I have lots of circles of friends that I can enjoy. It is nice to connect with folks that I had in classes last year, and with new people this year. Then of course I can connect with people at home as well. Lovely.

The pictures are of a church group that did a pilgrimage to Zoet Water (sweet water) just south of Leuven. It was a nice day. Most people biked down, but with my shoulder, I decided to take the bus - and one other person came on bus with me. It is a lovely rustic setting. Then we gathered after at the Salesian house where one of the group is staying. (Alex - for those of you who know him.)

Okay just a bit from our salvation/liberation class: Cool article. The last class we talked about this article, basically our group (consising of an Indian, an Eastern European, a Belgian, an Asian and me) was very interesting even in its dynamics due to language and cultural differences. The article (link above) was about how the notion of preferential option for the poor isn't really right. First of all, it's not poverty that is at issue, but injustice. And it is not only personal injustice, but systemic injustice, which I will add is really the societies that have all the conveniences, and hoard wealth, over and against the societies where people are starving to death. How can we talk about biodiesel (admittedly better than alternatives) when there is a food crisis? It's like taking food from the mouths of starving children and putting it in our automobiles. How can we do that? Well okay, so it isn't a matter of preference either; it's a matter of justice. How can we feel good about ourselves by sending our $20 to some cause, then continuing to use more than our share of resources, utilities, goods, etc.? It's a problem, as the article says, it's not a preference, it is a requirement of justice to change our lifestyle to be more just. Some of us in the group agreed that it wasn't possible to create a just society today, but we can and MUST take some steps in that direction. And in a sense, until we have 'utopian justice' our efforts are never enough. So while the victims of injustice need to be saved from our unjust systems, we who profit from those systems also need to be saved from our inability or perhaps only our unwillingness to change. Whew! Thompson has a poem on the charity ball: "The rich with pure intention amuse themselves to help the poor ... All night dance to clothe the naked ... for indigence wear fancy dress." Ouch! Lots to think about.

So I will be in touch!
Amy

Mea Culpa

2008-10-16T15:44:00.003Z

It's been a long time since I've posted, SORRY!!! But it's been busy. Last year it seems like it took a month or so for the semester to get underway. But it has really started quick this time. Partly because I know the system better - partly because Theology organizes more quickly than Canon Law.

I've promised to post my schedule, so here it is:
Monday:
2-4pm Religion and Peace Building Seminar - AWESOME!
7-9pm French 2
Tuesday:
9-11am Research Methods in Religious Studies
--been there done that - but it fits in my schedule
11am-1pm Theology of Salvation - AWESOME! - more later
2-4pm Modern Church History Seminar - helps with thesis
5-6pm Canonical Latin - waste of time - dont' tell the prof.
--Whew - long day!
Wednesday:
11am-1pm Contemporary Church History -
--when since is my life categorized as history???
2-4pm Academic French (for reading)
Thursday:
11am-1pm Temporal Goods (canon law) sometimes - ok
7-9pm French 2
Friday:
11am-1pm Canon Law of Religious Communities - sometimes -
--finally something I'm interested in - prof is good - an abbot.
2-4pm Canon Law of Religious Communities (cont)

I finally committed to a thesis topic: it is something about the writings of Francis Thompson. I had tried to figure out how to write something about religious life, but just couldn't focus a topic. So the I went back to the drawing board and figured I could write something more spirituality oriented, but then had to find a topic. I've always liked Thompson, and know quite a few of his works, so it's a good place for me to start. I'm sure I'll enjoy getting reacquainted with his works, and reading more of it.

I've pretty much put my webcasts aside due to busyness. I may do one later, but I'm a little busy now. I was doing 1.25 programs last year (canon law and 1/4 theology). This year I'm doing 1.5 programs (1/2 theology). and there's a 1/4 overlap because of each program taking electives from the other. Also, I've applied to get the canonical degrees in theology: STB, STL. It looks like if the stars align correctly, I'll be able to get the STL by the time I finish canon law. It means I'm academically qualified to be a bishop - of course the canon law degree will do that as well ... over qualified to be a bishop. :-) (canon 378 check it out!)

Okay, I promise to be more regular - I'll probably try to report on my Liberation Theology class regularly - so far it is quite good, but of course a tough message for a first worlder.

A bientôt

--Amy

"Very European"

2008-09-27T10:43:00.002Z

A little background on the headline: Last week my niece Lizzy had surgery and there were lots of emails flying around about her condition and recovery (she's doing nicely), etc. In the course of the group family email - I put in a note on my first week of classes. When I was writing it, I couldn't figure out how best to describe it - so I settled on "very European." ---Then the trouble started - what does that mean??? Is it good or bad? So people started speculating.... Going to class on a vespa drinking cappuccino??? So I promised to dedicate this blog entry to what I meant.

So what did I mean??? Well, it's hard to describe in short phrases. But basically it meant that I showed up for classes - about half of them were actually held. In once class there weren't enough chairs for all the students that appeared. In only one did we have anything like a normal lecture. The only way to find out that class wasn't being held was to wait for about a half hour - getting to know all the students in the class. Then at a certain point we all decide to take off. In one case, there was an email that went out subsequently to say that the class wasn't held. Very helpful. Oh, and the canon law schedule still isn't out. But we did have one class that is supposed to run one hour - we were there almost three hours, but mainly because the professor and I were redesigning the process for selecting bishops. There were only two students in the class, so I think the other student might have been annoyed - but was polite. No sign of new canon law students - but we'll have a meeting this coming week in which we should get more details. I did find out that the class on law of religious life is going to be held 4 hours at a time on certain Fridays (ugh) spread through the semester. It will be taught by a canon lawyer who is the abbot of some big monastery here in Belgium - I've met him and seems to be a nice guy - one class will be given by a Scottish nun - she is delightful - I've met her too. But most of the Canon Law will be in November, and second semester, so lots of theology to do now.

So how do you sum all that up in a few words - the best I could come up with was "very Belgian." Okay - now for a points challenge. For 100 points, how would you describe the week in 5 words or less (put your response in the comments below). And for an ADDITIONAL 100 points, what does "very European" week of classes mean to you.

Now that I'm an old hand at all this, I could take it in stride, realizing that for the first week you just attend whatever classes you can trying to see what courses you want to take. Of course my decision is made harder by the fact that I only decided after the fact that I'm doing Theology. So I don't know if I should do biblical, or spirituality, or systematics (contextual theology), or ethics (peace studies).... It's just so hard to choose. They call the area of concentration for the master the "major". So I changed my major after each class. But I think I ended where I started - on spirituality. Now this comes under the history of church, theology and spirituality department. However, three of my major classes given this year will be interesting for me. However, my other theology classes will be interesting as well.

I have started thinking about my thesis, and I would be interested in the interplay between the charism, spirituality and self understanding of the religious institute on the one hand, and the legal structures on the other. Often the founding stories of religious institutes include statements by the founders and early members that they don't want to be a religious order. I would be interested in exploring that phenomenon in some way in my thesis. A contrast to this phenomenon is religious movements that formed, but never became religious institutes. The Beguines come to mind, and Catholic Worker, a movement in the USA. I may later write my thesis for Canon Law on the juridic aspects of this phenomenon.

So for the most part, this semester will be mainly theology, and next semester will be mainly canon law.

Don't forget the points....

Peace,
Amy

Lots happening....

2008-09-16T15:43:00.003Z

I made it back well - no major travel difficulties. My major goals for the week or so before classes are

to readjust to the time - this hasn't been really a difficulty - I don't know if I'm getting better at crossing time zones, or what. But I've been okay on this score. I am glad that I don't have to do classes this week, but that's mainly because of goal two.
to take care of all the renewals and registrations, etc. This has been going well, and I'm on hold on a few things, waiting for paperwork for prior things before I can do the next step.

So I had lunch with my friends Colby and Elizabeth on Friday, and also met Patrick and Helena who stayed at my place over the summer. They are nice folks, and I'm sure I will enjoy getting to know them. Colby and Elizabeth are doing well, they moved and are very pleased with their new place.

Also on Friday I registered at the university and saw the doc at the student health clinic about getting continuing care for my shoulder.

Then Friday evening I went to choir practice and met all those folks. That was nice, and I enjoyed seeing my friends there and catching up a little. However, I was a little tired, so didn't join them for a little gathering after choir practice.

Sunday was church, again connected with old friends and met some new folks. There is still the festival in town, the Kermis, and all day during the day there were folks marching down the main street - I could hear the bands from my place, and the video at the bottom will give you a flavor. They have clubs based on birth year: the '42 club and the '58 club and the '67 club, etc. These are service groups and they will sponsor different events, and also each group has a particular color blazer that they wear for particular occasions, and a banner for parades. Every ten or fifteen minutes a few groups would parade down the main street with a marching band. There must have been a dozen bands - and this isn't that big a town. I will try to post my video later - but I don't have my camera connector yet (I mailed it to myself).

Monday I renewed internet and renewed my bike contract. They asked if there was anything wrong with the bike and I named a few things - they said to leave that bike and choose a different one. So I have a new ride - it's newer, still on its first coat of paint - a nice blue color. I think I need the handlebars raised. I also signed up for a French class - I was waffling on this one, but finally decided to go ahead, because I'm unlikely to get the chance again to learn from a native speaker.

That brings me to today, Tuesday - I just took the placement test for French and got into level two. That will start next week, la semaine prochaine, and runs through the academic year. The placement test was interesting you walked in and you could pick any computer - and put on headphones (this was all explained in dutch). When you sat down, you could choose the language you were testing in (about a dozen choices) and your language (for some preliminary instructions - about 6 choices). As we were gathering, people were giving instructions and verifying instructions in a host of languages.

I also connected with the other full-time canon law student in residence (note the modifiers). She has a nice new apartment - but may not be staying for the program this year - long story. The schedule is still not available, but I am pretty sure I know what my Theology program will be. I'll have to do some negotiating to make sure everything works out for that.

Well, I think that's all for now - I'm doing well and getting re-settled. It's kind of wierd to feel like I'm 'coming home' but this is home for now.

Peace,
Amy

Back to Leuven

2008-09-10T16:24:00.004Z

I'm traveling back to Leuven today. It will be about 20 hrs - door to door. Train to the airport in St. Louis, fly to Chicago, fly to London, fly to Brussels, train to Leuven - walk to my place around 4 pm Thursday, Sept 11. I'll probably do a few things before hitting the hay for a good nights rest, then hopefully I'll be on my feet and ready for action: friday market, friday lunch with friends, friday evening choir practice....

It has been good to be back, I did some visiting around and lots of errand type stuff in July, worked all of August, then visited and did some little stuff around in the first week of September.

It has been good, but I'm looking forward to getting back into things in Leuven. I hope to finish my Theology Masters this year - I'm not sure about thesis topic, but something about religious life - hopefully something that will lay groundwork for a Canon Law thesis next year. Suggestions welcome.

One thought I had was to do something on the founding inspiration of several groups, and how that is / was dissonant with the canonical requirements of religious life. Then on the canon law side, see how this all played out in the constitutions, and whether or not the group was every co-opted by the legal system (most religious communities), or remained outside it (some lay movements like Beguines or Catholic Worker).

Another idea would be to write on the personal effects / consequenses of canonical penalties, on the person, and on the local church.

Anyway, I'll have 10 days in Leuven before classes start, and I'll have to register for classes, renew my residence card, renew my insurance, renew my internet service, renew my membership at the international coffee house (pangaea). And of course meet friends, new and old.

I have heard from one of the canon law students from last year - we'll see if there are new folks coming into the program, and if there are any of the doctoral students still around.

Lots of love and prayers to everyone. Do come to visit!!! I'm writing this from the US - I may add a PS after I arrive - so you'll know.

Peace,
Amy

PS: I arrived - long trip, but no problems. Firsts on arriving in Leuven: first smell - belgian waffle stand at the train station, first sight - the Leuven carnival.

Calendar for 08-09

2008-09-01T13:23:00.002Z

September 22	Opening of the academic year and start of first-semester classes
December 20	End of first-semester classes
December 20 - January 4	Christmas and New Year's holidays
January 5-11	Study period - no classes
January 12 – January 31	First-semester exams
January 31 - February 8	Mid-year break - no classes
February 9	Start of second semester classes
April 4 - April 19	Easter holidays
May 23	End of second-semester classes
May 23 - June 7	Study period - no classes
June 9 - July 4	Second-semester exams
August 17 - September 12	Start of third examination period (retakes)

I have finished my 'summer job' and am enjoying a few days of R&R before heading back to Leuven September 10. My shoulder is still a problem and probably will be for a year or so. But hopefully I can keep it to a nuisance and not a pain.

Classes are posted for the Theology program, but not for canon law. I think most everyone knows that I'll be going back for classes this academic year, then next year I'll be writing my thesis for Canon Law and doing some internships and hopefully starting to do some real work back here in the states too.

There isn't much information about the third year internships. I'm hoping that I might be able to get something relevant to religious life which is what I'll be working at once I finish. I am hoping to do something at the congregation for religious in rome, but that is still very much in the hoping stage, not yet even remotely near the planning stage.

I'm hoping to get flying today - I went sailing with Chris in July. I'm hoping to check in with lots of friends and do some computer stuff before I head out next week for Belgium. It has been great connecting with folks again.

Peace,
Amy

I'm a working girl....

2008-08-09T17:01:00.002+01:00

All is well here. Let's see, lots has happened since my last entry.

We had our CSJ assembly and it was great to see everyone and catch up. But it's kind of like a family reunion where you see lots of folks but can't really catch up with everyone. Then we had the profession of a novice. That was a great ceremony.

A few weeks ago I managed to damage a nerve in my shoulder. Bummer! They have managed to get the pain under control, but it doesn't work too well.

For all of August, I'll be working with a religious community that has locations throughout the midwest. I'll be visiting many of their facilities, last week, I hit Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Cincinnati. It is interesting and hopefully I can help them out. I should finish that the end of August, then have a week or so off before heading back to Leuven.

I miss all the folks there - it was kind of fun watching the opening ceremony of the olympics - because I know people from more of the countries that marched in. Very cool!

Hopefully I'll manage to put in another entry before I get back, then I'll get back to regular postings from there.

Peace,

Amy

I'm Back!

2008-07-04T12:51:00.004+01:00

Greetings - I'm back in the same time zone with most of you. (Apologies to my Leuven friends who may be reading this.)

A little update:
1. I got my results and I graduated!!! with a Masters in Law Religion and Society - which qualifies me to go back for another two years.
2. I can be reached at my skype number: 314-266-1814, and at my room number: 314-678-0389. I got a cell phone for work - I'll forward Skype to that when I'm out of Skype range.
3. I'll be staying at Carondelet most of the time.
4. Retreat will be July 16-22 (more or less), here in St. Louis.
5. I'll be working all of August - CSJ community meetings for a few days, then I'll be working for a client with locations centered in the midwest (Wichita to Wheeling, Detroit to New Orleans). I'll be going to some of their locations, and working some here in St. Louis.
6. I return to Belgium September 10.

I had a good trip back to the US. Thankfully, I had a lot less problems with Jet Lag than I had at Christmas. A friend told me that in addition to adjusting to the sleep schedule right away when you start your journey, you should also try to adjust to the eating schedule - no matter what they give you on the plane. If it's 3am where you're headed - don't eat it. All in all, it seems to have worked.

Things I've noticed since I've been back: everything is bigger here and everybody speaks English. There really aren't shops and markets here, there are stores and malls. Also, I've become a cheese snob. I went to the store for a few things and could hardly find anything that I would even recognize as cheese. I'm used to selecting from one of about five local cheese merchants in the Friday market. Each has about 50 varieties of cheese to choose from, mostly locally made, and often named by the town or locality they come from. Tilsit, Sint Jan, Tomaat - well, I don't think the last one is a town.

My first twenty four hours included - hugging Henry - and all his family!!!, an American Milk Shake, chatting with a friend in Beijing (another Leuvenite), getting hugged by LOTS of sisters, letting a few Flemish phrases slip in the stores. Excuseer - Alstublieft.

Peace,
Amy

These Belgians....

2008-06-23T17:49:00.015+01:00

They're doing it again --- there's was a festival in town, lots of people, streets blocked off, etc. Apparently this was a summer solstice celebration. It featured lots of extra flags on the town hall, and people sailing out of the library clock tower down a rope into the square below - click the picture on the left you'll see it for yourself. Very entertaining. I snapped the people in old timey clothes while I was at lunch with friends. Apparently they were shooting crossbows earlier in the day. The red cross tent comes out at most town festivals - looks like out of a movie - they have stretchers to match.

For those of you who don't follow Belgian news, the big story is that the army is out of bullets. That may be why I didn't get accosted when I stumbled onto a military installation a few weeks below - see blog entry below for a few weeks back. In any case apparently in practice maneuvers soldiers are instructed to say bang, bang when they catch someone - or in dutch, that would be pang, pang. So some of us were wondering if this might be a way to revolutionize armed conflict. All the combatants agree that if they hear pang, pang before they say it, they are out of action and go home to their families, perhaps decorated for valor in combat. Then whoever has the most people at the end is declared winner. Oh, and if you say pang, pang to a civilian, you are automatically disqualified and you go home as well. Honestly it makes about as much sense as modern warfare, and would be much less messy and costly in human terms.
For those of you who are regular blog readers:

Sorry I didn't post an answer to the Russian equivalent question. I thoroughly enjoyed the answers. Finally, I've put my favorite on the sidebar. Chess, Vodka and Thick Novels with big Names. Thanks Nancy.
I didn't go anywhere last weekend, but I did take a bike ride around town, so that will have to hold me. I have some time after exams, and I have Tienen (close by) and Antwerp - of course, on my list of towns to visit. I'll see where the spirit takes me.

Next weekend, I'll have a visit from Anne Rutter, the CSJ working in Brussels. That will be fun. She is coming in on Saturday. Then when I fly out on Tuesday, I have a 5 hour lay over in London - My friends from there recommend tubing into town and having a gander. It should be entertaining.

And since the questions went over so well, the next question, for another 100 points, is: what are the "must do's" for my first 24 hrs back in the states? A sure MUST NOT will be get stuck at the airport in Chicago - what do you think the odds of that are?

A week from today, I'll be packed and ready to go. See you all soon!
Amy

Final Stretch

2008-06-20T18:03:00.005+01:00

It's been a while and lots of 'business as usual', exams, rain, blah, blah, blah.... Last week at the parish, the Ukranian community brought in a choir and celebrant and we had a full blown eastern liturgy. Our choir had learned a few pieces to sing with their choir. We had practiced on Friday, and wanted to run through them with their choir. So their director gave the notes, and off we ran - four part acappella. Yes, we ran. When we arrived at the end, our choir was somewhat dazed and the other director gave the notes for the next piece and off we ran again. When someone from our choir objected: this is new for us, their director said (with a so what tone of voice): it's new for us too, we're used to singing it in old slavonic, not in english. Thus ended our practice.
The liturgy was similar to other eastern liturgies I've been at. Lots of things going on all at the same time. And their choir sang in four parts for almost the whole time - just shy of two hours. The choir and celebrant kept changing languages without warning, those that I recognized were: english, dutch, french, spanish and italian. The polish girls in our choir looked like they recognized parts of it - so I'm not sure if that was polish or slavonic or whatever else. It would just run along in completely unrecognizable vocalization then all the sudden I would understand something, then say to myself: wait, what's going on, what is this. Apparently we'll do this more next year, so maybe it will get more familiar.
It is the final stretch for exams. I have four this week and the thesis defense. Some of these are my hardest exams, but I think I'm pretty much ready for them. I had a few days after my last exams to prepare for this last bunch, so it's getting close now. All is going well, I'm keeping tally in the side bar to the left - Smiley face means I'm pretty satisfied, the one in Psalms I don't think was my best effort, not bad, but not great either. Thankfully grades aren't too important at this point. It is more or less pass fail, so I can put in the effort to get the education I want without worrying about results. In any case, I expect to graduate in the top 5 in my program - oh, I guess that is the bottom 5 as well, but what's that between friends?

Wow, it also seems we have a little competitive spirit among the blog readers! Lots of answers to the last question; it was fun reading them. Stay tuned in for more questions. It's almost time for choir practice. Then I have to decide whether I'm going to take a break tomorrow (Saturday), or whether I'll study tomorrow and then take a break all of Sunday, maybe heading out somewhere after Mass. I may see how I feel tomorrow. I've been taking breaks and getting on my bike and riding on outside of town. There is a gown that may be close enough to cycle to, 10km I think. I may at least head out in that direction. I haven't done any trips that long yet - I'll let you know.

Peace,
Amy

I'm Russian, Of Course I Play Chess

2008-06-13T13:47:00.003+01:00

We were chatting about this and that and someone noticed a poster for a chess tournament so someone asked if anyone played chess. One of the group said: I'm Russian, of course I play chess. So what do you think their equivalent of mom, apple pie and baseball is.... I'll take submissions in the comment section. Actually a friend of mine has a blog and awards points for responses to various questions that are periodically posed. Then there is a running tally in the side bar. I think I'll do that for this question, so for 100 points, what is the Russian equivalent of mom, apple pie and baseball?

Another thing odd thing I've noticed is that Belgians often remark about the weather - my it is terrible weather today! - they seem to be genuinely surprised about this, although the weather is pretty much always terrible.

I have four exams completed. One exam I almost missed because they messed up the schedule and the prof was about to leave when I showed up. It went okay - it's oral, so I just had a short prep time. Another exam was scheduled for 9:00am. This was a written exam, and all the students were patiently waiting: 9:00, 9:10, 9:20... finally some of us went over to the office. Mind you this required running across the courtyard in drenching rain. We arrived at the office and the person who could help us was on the phone and signaled for us to wait. About 10 minutes later, we decided to jot a note for her and go back to class, in case the exam would arrive in our absence. So I wrote a short note, and the other student put it on the woman's desk. She immediately cut her conversation short. Our exam had been emailed to her office, and they had forwarded it to the proper office, but that office hadn't taken care of it. So she ran off copies and we trooped back across to the classroom and helped hand it out. It was about 9:45 by the time we started.

So I've completed 4 of 10 exams and have a thesis defense yet. Then I'm on my way home! See you soon.

Amy

Exams

2008-06-09T12:02:00.010+01:00

Exams have finally arrived and I finished the first two and am satisfied with how it went. Here is my exam schedule, so you know what you're praying for. The hotlinks might take you to my notes on the topic, in case you want to help study....

Process Law of the Church	Done :-)
Capita Selecta: Current Issues of Religion and Society	Done :-)
Psalms and Wisdom Literature	Done :-\|
Missiology	Done :-)
Organization of the Particular Church	June 17
Organization of the Magisterium	June 17
Latin Readings	June 23
Parish Law	June 25
Thesis Defense	June 25
Marriage Law of the Church	June 26
Theology of Canon Law	June 27

As one of my colleagues here said: Feel free to pray / bribe as you wish, but n.b. that bribing God or praying to examiners might be a waste of time!

Then, home again, home again jiggety jig! Who's doing something fun for the 4th of July?

Peace,
Amy

CSJs Bound for Uganda

2008-06-05T09:28:00.004+01:00

This morning, I met the 5 Sisters of St. Joseph who are bound for Uganda for ministry there. They looked great for having come from a transatlantic flight. They had just three hours on the ground in Brussels, so we got them their boarding passes, then headed for a cup of coffee, and some belgian chocolate; then it was on to passport control and on their way. It was good to see them and catch up a bit; a great break from studying.

Peace,
Amy

I was not arrested....

2008-06-02T09:42:00.004+01:00

No, I was not arrested, but I think I could have been. Let me explain. I have been studying pretty diligently, but at a certain point, it becomes impossible to do anything more - and I find a hundred excuses not t sit down and study - clearly, it's time for a break. So I pull out my handy guide to Belgium. This is a second hand book I picked up - it's in french, about 10 years old. But contrary to many guides which give you the hotels and restaurants and all the places you can spend money, this guide tells you about all the cools stuff to see "Curiosities" and all the special events "Manifestationes" for the town.

It's Sunday afternoon and the few friends from church decline to join me on the adventure. I choose Diest as my destination, a about 30 minutes by train, and it boasts a citadelle, a few churches, a beguinhof and a fly-in. The website where I check for trains is not working, so I walk to the station only to find my train doesn't leave for 45 minutes. I grab lunch and enjoy the exquisite weather. Finally, I catch my train and head for Diest.

Overhead the full time, there are small aircraft taking advantage of the incredible weather. There were three gliders circling near the airport. There were several parachuters drifting through the skies. I visit the Beguinhof and a number of churches, then head to the citadelle.

It's not well marked, surprising, since the other sites gave signs along the way to guide you in. I head up a lovely cobblestone path shaded over with trees. There aren't many people here as there had been at the other places I visited. The incline is steep (for Belgium) and I'm looking forward to a nice scenic view at the top. Military Domein - the sign announces - I must be in the right place. There is another sign, but it is so weathered I can't make out what it says. There is a large gate closed, but a small gate to the side that's open - still not many signs indicating where things are, and no people around. I pass through the walking gate, and head up a small incline. Still no people, but there are a few dozen cars, so there must have been people coming through the larger gate. I looked around a bit, then saw a sign Verboden Toegang - Access Forbidden - Hmmm.... Maybe that's why other people aren't around - they aren't so friendly. I decide to wander back out. Later on the train ride home, I read in my guide book that this is an active military installation and there is no public access. Ooops....

Back to the books now, and stay off of military bases.
Peace,
Amy
Diest Fly In

Bicycle Fest

2008-05-26T07:23:00.000Z

We had a bicycle fest recently. There were bike tours organized around the city. There were kiddie bike tours with police escort. Families were in the group, and one little guy at the end had a little tiny bike and he could hardly keep up with the group. But he was cycling furiously trying to keep up, and the police escort was patiently bringing up the rear.
Then at the square, there were all sorts of exotic bikes with different sized wheels, and one that you propel by pumping the seat, up and down, not by turning the pedals.
There was also a mini city street laid out with traffic signs and even some traffic lights. The town police were running this and kids could ride around in little carts or on bikes.

We also have the feest fiets - party bike. It is a table and at each seat there are pedals to cycle. In the middle there is a bar and bar tender, and there is the steering wheel for the whole affair. Apparently you can rent it out for a party or such. So what do you think - would this go over in the US????

Wow

2008-05-16T16:46:00.004Z

I've just gotten some information about our next few years here, and it seems next year (2008-2009) will be a lot like this - classes, etc.

But the third year (2009-2010) will have only a few classes, and will focus on the thesis (that one will be 100-150 pages) and some internships. And it seems there may be a possibility of doing that year mainly in the states. WOW that would be really nice, except I'll have to see how that will work with my theology program.

This summer I'll have some legal work , and if I'm back the following year, I can probably continue that on a limited basis while I'm finishing up with Canon Law. That will allow me to ease back into the work scene, and not have to start a practice from the start again.

I still need more information about the internships - what I've heard is that they want you to work with some diocesan tribunal, and then with an administrative part of some diocese. Apparently they are willing to talk about where. But I can imagine having some difficulties working within the hierarchical structure of the church. So that may be problematic. These internships are probably good for most canonists, but it's not the type of work I'm planning on doing.

One thing I was wondering was if there would be any possibility of doing that administrative part with the congregation for religious in Rome. I think that would be super useful for work in the future with religious institutes to know a little of the inner workings. I don't know if it's possible, but I'll see. The other possibility that I may check into is working with some vicar for religious somewhere. I'll have to see if that's a possibility.

Like I said, I just got some initial limited information, hopefully I'll know more soon. But being back in the states more during that third year sounds really good at this point.

----

Now on a cultural note, the giant bird cage is part of an arts program, there were artists, musicians, performing artists, etc. all around Leuven on the weekend. This was a part of it. Then this is a picture of some polish girls, some of them in the choir. They are in the oldest church in town for pentecost. The next picture is our reception after Pentecost.

Every Thursday we have a Carillon concert. This Thursday, they had folk dancing to the Carillons. They just announced it and people showed up. Unfortunately, you can't hear the music too well, but the first video below is to the Carillons, the second is to regular music.

Peace,
Amy

RIP

2008-05-11T16:53:00.004Z

Notice My nephew Graham died this past week. Wow, that has been a lot to handle on so many levels. He was just 23 years old and struggled with cancer for a year. Then just when we were regathering hope again for a new treatment, things went the other way and he died.

I have been again impressed by my family and community and friends as we gather for support and to mourn and pray for Graham and for each of us. I'm trying to call different family members since I can't be there to support in person. There are just not words, but I can imagine that each of my siblings hugged their children extra-tight in these days. Mother's day has taken on a deeper meaning, not without its pain.

It has meant SO much to me to have the CSJ support, prayers and visits to the family that I couldn't make. What a blessing. Again, words fail. But I think this is what community and Gospel living mean. And I am so blessed to be a part of this community.

My friends here in Leuven have also been a blessing - they have been sensitive and supportive. I told one friend about Graham, and she expressed her support and prayers, then I told her I needed a hug and she gladly obliged. It is always good to have friends that are close enough that you can ask for what you need and know that they will gladly provide. Again christian community at work.

On a happier note, we had our Pentecost celebration - all the language communities of the University parish gathered at the oldest church in town (11th century). We had three choirs from the different groups. The celebration was organized in 2 weeks. If we had done this in the states there would have been months of preparation.

When I say organized, I use the term loosely. We were supposed to sing the Alleluia, so I asked who was doing the sequence, so we would know. The director of another choir said he didn't know - we would see what happened. So the moment came, no-one made a move, so he stood up, nodded to the organist (big old pipe organ with a console in the body of the church) and away we went. There was no music for the verses, so after a pause, someone looked around, saw noone else was coming so he got up and read the English, we sang again, and then some other person got up and read the rest of the verses in French. So that was it.

At the offertory, the Cameroonians from our choir said: you come with us - and we became part of their offertory - I'll have to say they danced and sang better than the rest of us - but if it made them happy, we were happy to join.

There were a few other times when there was a pause, a few people would huddle at the side, clearly organizing the next part, then we would take off again. But everyone was pretty good natured about this, even if a few would have organized a little better if they had been at the helm.

At the end, we did If You Believe and I Believe - a favorite of the Hereford Sisters. We did English, Spanish, German, Chinese and Luo - as I understand, that's the language of the area where the CSJs will be in Uganda. One of our choir members is from there.

All in all, a grand celebration of the outpouring of the Spirit, some of us went for lunch at an outdoor cafe - the weather has been GORGEOUS!

Peace,
Amy

Sea Fever

2008-05-05T09:08:00.004Z

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

--John Masefield

Sunday was a simply lovely day, so I took off for the ocean - about 1 hr 40 minute train ride that brings you out among the boats. There are channels on either side of the train station. Then a few minute walk brought me to the sea side. It was a delightful beach - lots of families, kids, etc. One thing I've noticed here is how many people wear skirts. In fact, once the weather warmed up, I was thinking about shorts but I hadn't brought any. So I got a 'utility' skirt, which is what I wore to the beach, and I was right in sync with the locals.

The poem above was one that I memorized in school, and it always comes to mind when I head to the ocean - aaahhhh..... Beautiful. I really got to love the ocean when I lived in Boston and could go any time.

I had a four day weekend, and really spent most of it catching up. I sorted out my class on marriage law. I felt like I had a lot of information, but no sense of the system. That is partly because the system really doesn't make sense. But also partly because I think the professor assumed we knew the basics, so she has been very abstract. She is a practitioner, so of course it is all second nature to her.

It seems all my friends are looking for new apartments - that is the ones who aren't planning to return home after the break. I am pretty happy where I am, but I'm asking around a bit, just in case the rent goes way up. Otherwise, I like my apartment and neighbors, etc. The only thing is I wouldn't mind being a little closer to school. But that is relative - I would like to be a 5 minute bike ride, rather than a 10 minute ride away. Am I spoiled???

So it's just three more weeks of classes, then two weeks study period and three weeks exam period. I have my thesis in good shape, I'm just getting folks to read it for me to make sure it's ready to turn in. I'm not sure if the professor will want to read it before the final product - I have an email in to him. So we'll see about that. In any case, I'll be home in just two more months!
Peace,
Amy

Spring

2008-04-20T17:48:00.006Z

Here is a photo of Sint Pieter - the main church here in Leuven. I did have to roll in the street to get it, but it shows the flowers and what a lovely day it has been. So after church, I decided to head out for a day trip to Gent. I finished the first draft of my thesis on Saturday, so I was ready for a little break.

Gent has a charming city center. These folks dancing on the facade of a building on the square. There are lots of churches in close proximity; I just kept going from one BEAUTIFUL place to another.

I walked for about a mile and a half to the city center. And wandered around from place to place - there were LOTS of people out because the weather was so beautiful. We also had lots of international visitors.

I caught the tram back to the station after my travels, and caught the train home. It's just be a really beautiful day. They had a 'choir retreat' at my parish, which I had to miss. But you can listen to a little clip on youtube.

Peace,
Amy

Sunset 8:39

2008-04-16T07:08:00.004Z

Our days are already MUCH longer - sunset yesterday was 8:39 and it was still a little light at 9:30. The longer days make it a bit harder to get to bed at a decent hour, because it's still so light. It is however still quite cold. We're getting down near freezing every night, but the days may get up as high as 50. Notwithstanding the temperatures, spring is in the air, so some people are wearing shorts. Brrrr.....

I got my plane ticket last evening (when it was still light at 8:30). My itinerary is as follows:

Tue, Jul 1, 2008 Depart 10:10am Arrive 5:10 pm
British Airways 391 / 295
United Airlines 8039
Operated by: UNITED EXPRESS/TRANS STATES
Brussels, Belgium to St Louis, MO
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 Depart 2:37pm arrive 11:00am (Sept 11)
United Airlines 8017
Operated by: UNITED EXPRESS/TRANS STATES
British Airways 296 / 392
St Louis, MO to Brussels, Belgium

This week and next, I have extra classes, so I'm pretty busy. I've gotten most of my thesis written in first draft, and just need to write the conclusion. Once that is done, I'll send it off to people who have agreed to read and comment. If any blog readers are willing to do that for me, let me know. Hopefully I'll get the conclusion done this weekend, and then it's off on the review circuit and I can concentrate on classes for a bit. I think I might have mentioned that it seems I'm quite a bit busier. Which is in fact true, with more classes and the thesis. But I still have my head above water. I keep meeting interesting people at school and/or at church. Folks from everywhere who have settled here in Leuven for some degree or other. That is always a treat. I just met a sister from Ireland who is here on sabbatical. She just retired as head teacher and now wants to do something meaningful.

News on the home front is mixed, of course I rejoice with Sarah, and I'm reading the news from Rita's journey and the Uganda project. My newest nieces and nephews are cute as they can be, and I get a steady supply of pictures. I'll look forward to seeing them when I get back so I can say - My how you've grown... and all those 'auntie' lines. But my nephew Graham is in the hospital again, so please him in your prayers. He is in his early 20s and has been battling cancer. He and my brother and family would appreciate the prayers.
Peace,
Amy

Aachen - CentCom for Charlemagne

2008-04-09T18:46:00.003Z

You might have to tip your head for some of these pictures. I still have to learn how to flip them on my camera. But in any case, my last trip for spring break was just over the German border (about 1:15 hr by train) to the town of Aachen. It is all you might expect of a German tourist town. The buildings were super beautiful. The first one here is just a church I happened on when I was getting oriented - Holy Ghost church. I arrived in town and they were very well organized to help tourists find their way around. For those of you who take buses, they were AWESOME!!! I had found my bus from the extensive online information. So I knew I needed the #13 bus. And further, I learned to say that in German just in case. But when I arrived, they had a marquis listing the buses arriving at the stop, and exactly how long you would have to wait for each one (GPS on the buses I guess) - I've seen it for trains before, but not for buses. I bused up to my stop - and saw this church first.

I have to say that it rained pretty much the whole time I was in Aachen, but the insides of the churches were beautiful anyway. I took the bus to the farthest point of my planned trek, then walked back to the station, visiting sites along the way.
I happened into one church where a choir was practicing baroque type music - very cool. Lots of folks would come in and listen for a bit, then move on. I tried to get a little video, but it didn't really come out.

Then I went to Charlemagne's church - WOW - it is quite beautiful, very ornate and very cool looking. Very tall. I couldn't get anything in the view if I didn't turn the camera, so I think you may just have to tilt your head. It is TALL! There is an amazing amount of stained glass that just goes up and up and up!

The next picture is from the courtyard of some place next door, I'm not sure what it was, but I suppose it was some convent or monastery attached or associated with the church (sorry for the lack of detail).

I got some of the Aachener Prinzen which is the local pastry, sort of a crunchy gingerbread - but all the information made sure to say that it wasn't gingerbread - but you get the idea. Quite good. The shop had oom-pah music on and the lady said Auf Wiedersehen, when I left. Actually, I said a few German things, but I'm not sure they were the right things - however, I got my Prinzen.

I also got a picture of the local german vietnamese restaurant - kind of funny to see Vietnamische Haus. Also, I have to report on german street crossing procedure - at least as I observed it. When you come to cross the street, you look across the street at the traffic light, NOT at the traffic. Then when the light changes, you march right out into the street, again without checking for traffic, because after all, this is Germany - the lights WILL work, and the cars WILL stop. I observed this several times.

I think I cut a guy off in line at one shop - there were lots of people and I'm sure I got cut off, so I figured you just jump in when the lady is free. So anyway some guy said something to me in german - he didn't sound upset or anything. Come to think of it, he might have said something like "Can you believe all this rain we're having?" - I'm just not sure.

On the way home, I met a guy from my dutch class (which I finished if February). Rudolpho is from Mexico, studying some type of electrical engineering. He is taking the second level of Dutch, and he caught me up with who else from our class had continued on. Not many. Anyway he had placed second in some tennis tournament and I met him at the station where I changed trains. It's funny how often I meet people I know on the trains or at the station.

I'm back in classes this week. I got a good start on my thesis, but will put it away for a bit. There is a student trip to Holland to see the tulips - I can't make it for the group trip - but I've been told that is really the one trip not to miss. So I may see if I can make my way up there on another weekend. They say there are flowers for miles. (Actually what they really say is that there are flowers for kilometers....) I also started to look for tickets home - I need to double check at the faculty when classes are over so I know when I can book for. Sometime in early July, I think.

Tschüs! (Bye!)
Amy

Oh the Places You'll Go

2008-04-02T16:18:00.007Z

I just couldn't help thinking of this title of the Dr. Seuss book while I was on the train on my way back from Liege. The name of the town in Dutch is Luik, which is important when you're trying to find the train on the kiosk. Yet another adventure in lovely old churches; this time however, I had some language difficulties since no one was willing to speak english or dutch, so I had to rely on my french, and they folks there speak a notoriously oblique dialect of french. So they looked quite puzzled as I asked for the bus to get me to city center, but eventually I found the bus there, then got directions to the cathedral, and what is a little more miraculous, found my way back to the station on a different bus. Then I had to switch buses, and the last driver looked particularly pained and puzzled when I asked him if the bus went to the station. However, he acknowledged that it did.

Liege was more of a challenge, partially because of the language, partially because it isn't really a tourist town, although it certainly has its store of lovely buildings and churches. I found my way to the cathedral - St. Paul, and it is quite well restored, with lots of tremendously ornate art and furnishings.

My next stop was the University of Liege - well, why not. It was certainly a lovely building, but I couldn't really figure out what was happening inside - education I suppose, but I think I was in the administration building at lunch break. Liege is east of Leuven, almost to the German border. It is an industrial town, and very active center of commerce. It has one of the largest inland ports in Europe. (I read the guide book.)

I also had a real treat on my bus ride back to the station - it surely wasn't the most direct route, but I went past many of the major sites, and crossed the river three times (or maybe four). Thankfully, I had a good look at the church steeple near the train station, and as long as it kept coming in view, I was fairly confident of finding my way back.

It was a nice break, now back to the books tomorrow, I think. Then I'm planning one more excursion to Aachen on Saturday. I have maps for that already, and I won't even try German. Oh, I also found a cool belgium travel guide at the second hand shop - it has maps of the main town centers, along with little histories and 'curiosities'. It's in french, but I think I can make out the main points of interest. It is helpful since most towns don't provide free maps, and the ones they sell are expensive, and often not helpful to a tourist.

Peace,
Amy

Brugge

2008-03-26T14:58:00.003Z

My trip to Brugge is the first of my Spring Break Trips. I had planned a longer excursion, but am settling for several shorter trips. Brugge was the first of these trips. It is about 1.5 hrs west of Leuven - near the west coast of Belgium. It is one of the oldest cities, and best preserved. There was a moat around the old city, which still exists and has mainly tour boat traffic. I didn't take the boat tour, but I'm sure I will next time I come. I walked from the Station to the Center of town, which took about an hour since I was taking in sites along the way. Then I ate in the square, an headed out.

The skyline is so medieval - very cool. Everywhere you look there are cool old buildings. Leuven took more of a beating during the world wars, and while we have old buildings, we also have newer buildings interspersed. Also, the canals are everywhere, and there are boats on them. I went in one church and it was really out of control ornate. Beautiful, but out of control. It makes me understand how the younger generations here in Europe see that and get turned off of the Church. I'm sure it was a devotional thing, making all the beauty in the Church. But it is also a counter witness to simplicity and care for the poor.

I remembered all Pat Quinn's tales of her and Kate Regan's side trip to Brugge - too bad I didn't know the exact places, I could have followed in their footsteps. I came home in time for a conference call this evening (early afternoon in the states). When I got back to Leuven, I saw some sun - it had been overcast all the time I was in Brugge. So I'll probably stay home and work/study Thursday, then on Saturday, I'm going to meet a CSJ who is working in Brussels. That will be fun. I'm not sure if I'll try to take in another city before that.

I'll probably do a travel log of my adventures for the next couple of weeks, so I hope I don't wear out my readers.

Peace,
Amy

SNOW!!!

2008-03-25T10:09:00.006Z

We have had snow for the last few days! It's the first time I've seen snow since I've been here. But it is snow Belgian - style, i.e. it will snow furiously for 10 minutes; then the sun will shine brightly for a bit; then some clouds, and back to a snow storm. This entry is just to give some pictures and movies, I hope it works - there seems to be loud sound on the videos - so you might want to turn down your sound.