Sweet Home Seminary...

Yeah, I know Lynyrd Skynard never cut this version of the song Sweet Home Alabama and I do not think anyone else is about to cut it either. I will admit that I was not exactly jumping for joy upon arriving back to seminary after our Spring Break. Before you begin to think that seminary is a horrible place, let me explain.

As I pulled in to the seminary yesterday evening, I did have that feeling of arriving home after a long trip. After I unloaded the car, threw my bags in the middle of the room (where they remain unpacked and completely in my way), and put away my hanging clothes, I sat down for a brief moment and was glad to be “home” after a long day. I was actually surprised that I found more comfort in my worn out twin mattress than I did in the plush Queen sized mattress at the La Quinta Hotel where I stayed the night before. There is just something comforting about your own space where you spend a majority of your time.

I did not have long to relax as I had to join the rest of my seminarian brothers for Vespers (Evening Prayer) followed by a house meeting. After the meeting I returned to my room to write a paper that was due first thing Monday morning. I got to sleep around midnight and realized that 5:40AM was going to come quickly. I was greeted this morning by a nice cold shower. I must shamefully admit that my first thought was that the Rector of the seminary found a new way to shave a few dollars off the budget. My next thought was that it was an attempt to make us live a more ascetic lifestyle during this penitential time of Lent. Either way, I decided to offer it up and remembered all the folks who are in Guatemala this week for the Medical Mission trip. I was there last year and remembered the joys of cold showers. I decided it was God’s little way of reminding me to pray for them.

Anyway, I digress. The point of all this was to let you know that for the first time in my life, I feel kind of homesick. I miss being around my friends and family on a daily basis. The trips home are never long enough. It is hard to get motivated to come back to a challenging academic and spiritual environment like seminary. Thankfully God gives us the grace we need to persevere.

I also realized something else this past week. I really love being in a parish. I guess that is a pretty good thing for someone discerning a life as a parish priest! My point is that I feel truly at home when I am in a parish and not just my home parish. This past weekend I visited a parish in Kyle and gave a talk after communion about vocations. I just love going to Mass with the families and meeting all of the people after Mass. I look forward to the time in my life when I get to be in a parish full time.

Until then, I need to buckle down and get to work. The academic calendar is back in full swing and I have a fairly demanding week ahead. Next weekend I will be traveling to Houston to staff a Confirmation Retreat with one of my brother seminarians. I anticipate it being another much needed shot in the arm for me.

I want to reflect on today’s Mass readings sometime this week when I have a little more time. The readings talk about finding God in the ordinary instead of the extraordinary. Until then I wanted to share with you the text from the talk I gave this weekend. I also want to thank those of you who left comments. I do read them and I appreciate them. Here is the talk (please forgive any bad grammar or typing mistakes):

Good Morning / Good Evening. As Father said, my name is Tom Reitmeyer and I am a first year Seminarian with the Diocese of Austin.

Each year the Bishop asks seminarians to visit several parishes in the diocese. I was excited when I learned that I had been assigned to visit St. Anthony’s. You see, this is a bit of a homecoming for me. I grew up living in Manchaca for most of my life. I went to elementary and middle schools in Buda. My family and I were members of Santa Cruz Catholic Church in Buda. As I drove into Kyle this weekend, I remembered playing little league football in a field located in this general area. When I pulled into the church, I quickly realized that you all built a church on my football field. Don’t worry, I approve. I also remembered making trips to Five Mile Dam with my Father. And, of course, there is not mistaking the smell of the wonderful food at Railroad BBQ.

I am here today for two reasons, the first being to talk to you about vocations. To begin I would like to briefly share with you a portion of my own vocation story. As I already mentioned I grew up here in Hays County. Like most families, my family was not perfect. We had our share of problems and difficulties that we had to work through. However, despite all the difficulties, my parents made sure to instill in me the values of the Catholic Faith, the importance of prayer, and a desire to do the right thing. My family was involved in the life of our parish. My mother taught me CCD and prepared me for First Communion. My father was also involved in the Knights of Columbus and Boy Scouts. By being actively involved in the life of the parish, my parents taught me that love and service to God and His church should be a priority in my life.

After graduating from high school in Austin, I attended college at Texas A&M University. After graduation, I began a career in law enforcement. Admittedly during this time in my life, my faith was not of primary importance. Sure I went to Mass on Sundays here and there, but I made excuses for why it was okay to miss every so often. After all, I was young, single, had a great job, I was advancing in my job quickly, I was making good money, and I had a fast sports car. What else could I possibly want to be happy?

In 2005, a friend of mine approached me and asked me to be his son’s Godfather. I could not believe that this friend would choose me to be an example of faith for his son. I quickly responded to the invitation and said that I would be honored. However, I knew that if I was going to stand before God and make a promise to ensure that this child was raised in the faith, then I better get my act in gear. I first went to confession and then began to attend Mass EVERY Sunday. I even started going to daily Mass when I could. I began reading and studying the catechism and other books about our faith. I prepared for and received the Sacrament of Confirmation as an adult. It was the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit that allowed me to make God a priority in my life. I committed myself to times of prayer and active service in my parish.

As my heart grew closer to God, it grew further and further away from police work. Despite having all the things the world said I needed to be happy, I realized that something was missing. I heard another invitation. This invitation came from parishioners, friends, and priests who asked me to consider whether God was calling me to the priesthood. I began to pray for the grace to hear God’s voice and asked him to change my heart if he was indeed calling me to the priesthood. Through active ministry in my parish, participation in Diocesan Discernment events, and living a sacramental life, I clearly heard God’s invitation to further discernment in seminary. I cannot and will not stand here today and tell you for sure that I am called to be a priest, but I will tell you that God has asked me to put my plans aside and to follow him by continuing to discern His will for my life in seminary.

I would like to speak to the parents that are here tonight / this morning. I would ask that each of you encourage your child to consider his / her vocation carefully. Be open to the very real possibility that God may be calling your son or daughter to a life as a priest or a religious sister. Be active in the life of your parish and instill in your children a sense of priority in loving and serving God and his church. Encourage your child to participate in youth groups and other organizations within the church. Make it clear to your child that while pleasure may be found in the things of the world, true happiness is found in following the will of God. I don’t need to try and convince any of you that your child is a special gift from God. I will, however, point you to the words of St. Matthew’s Gospel when in talking about the gifts we have received it says, “without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.”

To the young people that are here, I echo Pope John Paul II’s words when he said, “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid to follow God’s will for your life. Do not be afraid to say “No” to the temptations and empty promises of a society who has little room for God in their daily life. Remember that your vocation, whether it is a call to marriage, single life, priesthood, or religious life, is a direct invitation from God to live your life in the manner that will bring you the most joy and happiness. Do not expect God to reveal his will to you in the form of a text message, certified letter, on Twitter, or on Facebook. You will only hear the sweet sound of God’s voice when you quiet your hearts and free yourself of all distractions so that you can listen closely to what it is He is saying to you.

The second reason for my visit, and perhaps the most important, is to say, “Thank you.” On behalf of all of the Austin seminarians I would like to thank you for all of your love, your prayers, and your continued financial and spiritual support. We all feel truly blessed to be called to discern God’s will for our lives in a diocese that is filled with such faithful people. Please be assured of our sincere gratitude and our prayers for you and those that you love.

Finally, I leave you with a verse of scripture that my brother passed on to me many years ago. It comes from Chapter 3 of Proverbs and it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Thanks and God Bless.

Have a good week everyone!

Pax Tecum,
Tom

"It's good that we are here..."

These were the words of Peter as he stood on the mountain with James and John and witnessed the Transfiguration of our Lord. I love the gospel reading about the Transfiguration. For the most part this is because I was born on August 6^th which is when the church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration. Each year as I celebrate my birthday I always listen to this gospel story and think about my life.

As I heard the gospel yesterday, I was serving Mass at my home parish, St. Thomas Aquinas in College Station. Even before the Mass as I entered the church and began to pray, I could not help but think to myself, “it is good to be here.” For those of you who have seen it, you know how special the crucifix in the sanctuary of the church is. I love to go in the church, sit down, and stare up at the crucifix. I tend to get lost in prayer and am oblivious to the people around me. It usually isn’t long before someone comes up to say hello and welcome me home. I usually return the greeting and then turn back to the cross.

This weekend was just one of those weekends where everything seemed to come together. I have never felt more at home than I did this weekend. I am surrounded by friends, family, former co-workers, and some other people that are very special to me. When I am around these people, it is easy for me to see the glory of God. The world is transfigured into a place where I can see the hand of God working in my life. It is all so clear and easy to see. However, it’s not always like that is it?

Like most people, there are times in my life when I question the things that seem so fundamental to my existence. I question what it is that God wants me to do with my life. I question my behavior at times and wonder if I could have handled certain situations better. I have made career changes. I have bought and sold my possessions. I have moved away from friends several times only to be blessed with more relationships while maintaining the old (albeit in a different way). However, there are times when you wonder if you are getting it right. There are times when I question my decisions and wonder if I got it all wrong. Like most of you, I have doubts from time to time. I think anyone who is willing to take off the masks that we wear from time to time and really look at their lives will experience some doubt every now and then.

Despite the doubts from time to time, there are almost always moments of great clarity that come through prayer. Yesterday was one of those times of clarity. As I prayed during communion, I looked around the church and again thought to myself, “It is good to be here.” I was thinking to myself, “How did I end up here? How did this place end up being my home?” You see, I came to College Station twelve and a half years ago to attend college. I had no plans of staying here. I did not have any family here. After college, my friends moved away and got married. I made new friends, started and finished one career, and eventually took steps towards discovering my call to seminary. Objectively it makes no sense why these people that I was watching come forward for communion would become my family. I realized that for me, my home is in the Church. Everything just seemed to make sense in those moments of prayer. I felt at home. Like Peter, I wanted to pitch three tents and stay a while. I wanted to stay on top of that mountain and never come down. And yet, I knew that my stay would be short. While I don’t mean to relate seminary to the cross, to be honest, it can be a cross at times. It can be a cross the same way a job, family issues, financial issues, etc can be a cross in your life. Many times we simply do not want to come down the mountain and face them. However, I have come to learn that it is in those moments of the cross that we are able to show our love for God the most.

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that God is constantly offering us opportunities to be on top of the moment and witness his glory in all its majesty. We have to take the time though to recognize them and to enjoy them. It is the strength and consolation that we get in those moments that allows us to go out and love and serve the Lord in our love and service to our brothers and sisters.

This morning I was given another gift by being able to sit and have breakfast with my best friend and his young daughter. While I miss being able to hang out with him as often as I would like, there is something special about seeing a dad and his daughter spend time with each other. To be honest, I wanted to pitch a few tents again and live in that moment for a while. Any of you who have had children know that there is a limited shelf life though to the happiness and cooperation of an eighteen month old before a nap is needed.

I am sitting here in a coffee shop in College Station relaxing before I meet a friend for lunch. I have a busy couple of days ahead meeting with different people and visiting friends before I move on to Austin for a few days. Next weekend, I will be in Kyle, TX visiting a parish and giving a talk on vocations after communion. I will return Sunday night to seminary close to midnight. So, while it will be time to come down off the mountain soon enough, I think I will just sit here at the top for a while and take in the dazzling white view of the glory of God.

Pax Tecum,

Tom

Out of the Desert...

This past Saturday, I did something that I rarely ever do. I took a day to myself. I woke up late (around 9:30) after being out late the night before and went to get breakfast by myself. The night before I went to a Barnes and Noble in Southlake, TX and picked up a few books. On this particular trip I picked up Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather. Now I have read this book in high school and probably still have a copy of it somewhere, but I felt the desire to read it again. I remembered that the imagery in the book and the descriptions of the landscapes were wonderful. I figured it would be a good way to escape for a bit and really dive into a book. So, at breakfast, I sat and drank my coffee and leisurely read my book. I wasn’t in a hurry to do anything in particular.

After breakfast I went to the movie theater and bought tickets for Slumdog Millionaire. I did not have a particular desire to see the movie but heard it was good and did not like the looks of the other movies that were showing. I talked to my nephew, brother-in-law, and sister before going into the movie. A few other friends sent me a text here and there. That was when I decided that if this was really going to be a day to myself I needed to ignore the phone. I made it through most of the movie and enjoyed the story. I thought the movie was predictable but it was entertaining all the same. Unfortunately due to the amount of coffee I drank at breakfast and the large diet coke I treated myself to, I had to run out right after the main character answers the last question on the game show. By the time I returned, the movie was over and the credits were rolling. At first, I was disappointed because I did not find out if the guy got the girl in the end. Then I realized that I did not care. In my mind, the guy ended up with the girl…the love of his life. Who would of thought that I was a romantic huh? I walked out of the movie smiling and was happy with my decision to put the two together (I have since learned the actual ending of the movie).

After the movie I headed over to Holy Family of Nazareth in Irving, TX. A friend of mine is the Director of Youth Ministry there but I knew he was out of town. I sat in the chapel for about two hours praying and reading Death Comes for the Archbishop. It was a fruitful time of prayer and for me. I could not have thought of a better way for me to spend my Saturday afternoon. I was alone with God (i.e. the love of my life). I know it is a little cheesy to hear me say that, but I have come to realize the truth in that statement.

Towards the end of my prayer time, an older (he was not the pastor and I presume he was a retired priest) came in and sat down. He walked with a cane and had some difficulty getting up and down in the chair. As he sat down, he pulled out his rosary and began to pray. I decided that I would pull mine out as well and pray along with him in silence. After about twenty minutes, and with considerable effort, he got up and went to the confessional to hear confessions. I had already planned on going to confession and so I was happy to know that he would be hearing my confession. As I looked at that priest, I realized that I know nothing about him. I don’t know what assignments he has had or how long he has been ordained. I don’t know all the ups and downs of his life, but what I do know is that after many years, he takes the time and considerable effort to spend time with God before doing the work that God has asked him to do. I admired his dedication and his commitment. He was doing what God asked him to do as best as he could do it.

I went to Mass after confession and was happy to be in a parish again. I miss my parish family and I miss going to Mass with families. We have really good liturgy and good music at the seminary but it is always a joy to be at Mass in a parish. After Mass, I went to dinner with some friends and had a great night.

Now I will get to the point of the blog. I apologize for the length but thank you for your patience (for the two of you that read this). As I was reading Death Comes for the Archbishop I was thinking about the stories surrounding the main character, Fr. Latour. Fr. Latour is a French priest who came to America and was made the Bishop of New Mexico just after it became a part of the United States. Bishop Latour’s responsibilities often required him to travel alone on horseback through the rough terrain and desert areas of the New Mexico territory. On one particular trip, Bishop Latour had been without water for some time. His horses were literally dying of thirst beneath him. After everything he had been through and after being obedient to God and doing what God asked him to do, he risked dying for lack of water. Such a death seemed unlikely in a land full of thieves, violent Indians, and other threats to life. Just as the Bishop thought he could not go any further, his horses perked up and began to walk quickly. The Bishop guessed correctly that the horses smelled water.

There in the middle of nowhere lied an oasis. The Bishop found a small town centered around a source of fresh water. In fact, the town was called Hidden Water. The people of the town were so excited to see a priest that they almost did not believe that Bishop Latour was a priest. Bishop Latour spent the next few days witnessing marriages and baptizing children.

This story stuck out to me for several reasons. All of us, as we enter into Lent can relate to the imagery of the desert. We recount the story of the Israelites who were led around the desert for years until they were willing to yield to the will of God and follow his lead. We all know the stories of the desert Fathers who went off to pray, face their temptations, do penance, and more. We know that Jesus Himself went off to distant places to pray. The desert, for many of us, is a time of struggle. It is a time to be stripped of many of the comforts and distractions in life so that we can become more attuned to the voice of God and His will for our lives. While the desert is not always a pleasant place to be, it can be fruitful. The Israelites were eventually delivered to the promise land. Jesus returned from the desert having encountered Satan and remained obedient and faithful to the Father. Prior to that John the Baptist came out of the desert with the message to “Prepare the Way.” Good things come out of the desert.

Like the story in the book, though, God will often provide little oases and sources of life. Now please know that I am not reflecting on my own spiritual condition as it stands now, but I have been in the desert before. Each time that I have been there, I am amazed by the gifts that God has given me. It is only now that I am able to recognize them and even appreciate them. Often times they are something as simple as a kind word from a friend, a card in the mail, a new friendship, or an unmistakable sign of God’s love for me. Like the Hidden Water, they are the source of life that I need to continue my journey. They are the source of strength that I need to continue to do what I believe God asks me to do each day (especially in the little things). They are the source of faith that I need to withstand the blinding sandstorms that not only cause me to lose sight of my path but also can wear me down like a rock in a tumbler. When these hidden sources come, it is good to stop, take some time, do the things that God has created you to do, and then prepare to continue the journey until, one day, at last, we arrive home.

I wish you all a time of spiritual renewal and peace during this Lenten season. Please be assured of my prayers and please continue to pray for me and more importantly my seminarian brothers. I have a busy week and a half to go with three midterms and other tasks but in just ten short days I know that I will be home.

Pax Tecum,
Tom

Who do you say that I am?

I heard these words in today’s Gospel as Jesus asked Peter about his understanding of the true identity of Jesus Christ. In this particular instance Peter got it right. He hit a home run as he proclaimed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (Mt 16:16). We all know that Peter did not always get it right. I think that is why I like him so much. I can relate to Peter. I think we all can.

In one of my classes we are reading about the early Church Fathers and their teachings. Earlier this week we were discussing the heresy known as Arianism. Arius was a priest who took issue with a homily that was given by his Bishop (even early in my formation I can see how this was not a good idea...), Alexander. Arius believed that there was a time when the Son was not. This means that there was a time when God was not Father. This meant that the Son of God was a creature begotten by the Father. The Son, according to Arius, would be mutabile and therefore susceptible to vice and many other implications that come along with those attributes. Arius was pronounced a heretic and censured by his Bishop. Now, I am by no means a church scholar. Keep in mind that I am a first year seminarian so please don’t think that I speak with any real authority on these matters. I am just sharing some of my thoughts.

I bring up the example of Arius simply to make the point that even after Peter’s confession, the confession of St. Thomas the Apostle, the teachings of the early Church Fathers and Bishops, I think many of us encounter Christ each day and hear him ask, “Who do you say that I am?” This is not meant to say that we each have our own truth about whom Christ is and that the answer is up to us. As the priest put it in his homily this morning, Christ asking this question to Peter was more like administering a mid-term exam in order to gauge the progress of your students.

The answer to this question is for each of us a matter of prayer. I ask you to consider as I will in my own prayer, who is it that I proclaim Christ to be, not only by my thoughts and my words, but by my actions? After all the disciples came to know Christ by watching what he did and listening to what he said. How do I show Christ to others? Do people see Christ in me? Do I see Christ in others (even those I may not particularly like)? Do I really encounter Christ? Do I know him? Do I take the time to know him? Do I introduce my family, co-workers, or children to him?

I think we all have had the experience of people who get the wrong impression of us. They see us in a way that does not always match up with our own self image. They cannot see into our heart. They cannot read our minds. They are only able to know who we are by how we live our lives and by the parts of our lives that we are willing to show them. It then becomes hard to determine whether the true identity is that of our own self image or that which the majority of people see when they encounter us. Do with that what you will and give it some consideration.

On a lighter note, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still alive and well. My lack of writing has not been a matter of overwhelming responsibilities but more a matter of taking some time to myself while things aren’t so hectic. I hope this finds all of you in good health and good spirits. Please be assured of my prayers for all of you. Please continue to pray for me and my seminarian brothers. We are experiencing a bit of change here at the seminary once again and that is always difficult. I look forward to a relaxing weekend this week and will write again soon. In the meantime, I leave you with this for your consideration:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
On your own intelligence rely not;
In all your ways be mindful of him,
And he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Pax Tecum,
Tom