In my last post I was pointing out how amazing it is to see just how many people actually come to visit my blog. Well, I got an interesting email the other day. It was from a Protestant seminarian who had found my blog and clicked on the link to message me. The email said that I had been “featured” on the seminarian’s blog and that I should check it out. So, following is the post that I found on the other site. I thought it was rather interesting to see how God can use all different kinds of ways to bring people together and let us know we’re all part of one family. Maybe the Holy Spirit has started a new ecumenical blogging movement At any rate, it was nice to meet a new friend and smile at God’s continuing presence in the world. It also caused me to once again thank God for the gift of my vocation.

I got my inspiration for my online diary (blog) from three Catholic seminarians on xanga; a perfect example is Shawn Tunink’s lastest blog entry (St. Pio) about how he found clarity on his call to the priesthood while on pilgrimage in Italy. http://www.xanga.com/stunink 

These seminarians shared so much of themselves and their preparation for ministry that I was able to relate in a way I hadn’t been able to before.  It’s kind of sad, but we don’t get a chance to fellowship much around seminary, we have a long commute to get there and then we have to get to our classes and afterward we have the long commute back home (2 hours for me).  But these Catholic seminarians live on campus and naturally share their lives together.  On their blogs they share their faith and make being a seminarian seem so cool and even enjoyable.  I was hooked on their blogs.  Sadly, Gerard Alba no longer has his site on xanga.  Matty Molnor died in a tragic car accident a year ago, I was amazed at the approximately 175 prayers and comments people posted on his site after his death. I never met him but from what I read on his blog and the others, he was very popular in life and a blessing to everyone who knew him and after his death his diary has inspired and motivated me, so as seminarians I think we should model his example and be a source of support and strength to one another.  Shawn still has his site and he writes alot about Matty and the friendship they shared.  If you’re a seminarian, I recommend reading their blogs. (you’ll find links on the left side panel -custom lists).  

So that’s why I decided to start my own blog and share my own experiences.  Let us continually search for new and innovative ways to share Christ’s love; “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15.12).  God Bless

Sometimes people who don’t really know much about the internet are surprised to hear about seminarians who have blogs. They don’t really know what a blog is. I was in this camp just a few years ago when Matty came to me and told me I needed a blog. I kind of thought this was something Junior High kids did. Well, I obviously found out otherwise and am learning not to reject things so quickly before I know much about them. Any way of spreading the Gospel sounds good to me. If the intenet were around in St. Paul’s time we might be hearing at Mass, “A reading from the first blog of St. Paul to the Xangans…” Peace and all good.