Urgent

Yesterday was Davao del Sur day, so we didn't have school. I do have to say I think yesterday was probably my most laziest day here in the Philippines. I just sat around the house and watched movies. I did play basketball last night, but that was about it.

However, something really urgent came up last night. Come to find out my Visa expired. Br. Dan sent me an email letting me know that I needed to get to Davao to have it fixed. On our actual Visas in our passports it says that the visa will not expire till August 3rd, but when we arrived in the Philippines they stamped it and then put a date of June 18th in there. We noticed this when we got here and went to the airport to have it checked out, but they told us we were fine. Obviously we weren't. So I was up really early this morning and on a bus with one of the Brothers at 6 a.m. for Davao. The worst part about traveling from Digos to Davao is that it is really long and very tiring. I was hoping to get the Visa taken care of and back to Digos as soon as possible because I was already missing a school Mass, and wanted to go to the school we helped build, which is a public school, to have Mass there. Well other errands got in the way with some of the Brothers and I got back to Digos too late, so I missed both Masses. However, I was exhausted. I went to the Director of campus ministry to explain the situation because he had no idea, and he was alright. I ended up coming to lay down for about 2 hours. I was able to catch the First Friday Mass at the Cathedral that is meant for the college students. It was nice because I hate it when I miss Mass.

I have learned in my time as a seminarian and now as a Brother how meaningful it is to attend Mass. My day pretty much is not complete if I am not able to attend Mass. I have enjoyed reading our Rule of Life where it talks about the Eucharist so far in four of the rules. Some feel like attending Mass is an obligation, but I don't see it that way. It isn't an obligation, it is an opportunity to grow in a relationship with Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. By attending Mass I feel connected on a global basis to other people. One friend of mine even though we don't see each other we always tell each other "see you at Mass." If it seems as if I am going to miss Mass I start to panic because it is so important to me. Gotta love it!

In other news, one of my professors from Le Moyne has asked me to write a letter to support her application for tenure. I am really honored that she has asked me and I am looking forward to composing this letter.