My Brief Vocation Story
During a short lull during the exam schedule, I decided to talk a little about my vocation story. Enjoy!
November in Rome
Now that we have entered the middle of November, things have been pretty normal. In fact, the schedule from week to week is the exact same. The only difference is that I have been learning so much each week. However, there has not been a lot of extra time to explore the city of Rome. By the time I get done with my classes, lunch, studying and exercising, I just want to relax. Having to walk throughout the city never sounds that enticing when I have time to actually explore.
There was a couple visiting from Norman, Oklahoma last weekend that made me realize how much I need to see in Rome. Many tour groups fly into Rome, jump on a bus, and then fly from one historic or religious site to another. However, there are a few seminarians here that make a list of places they want to visit and then they just go down the list. Perhaps I should start doing that in my spare time. At least I could share my experience with you in this blog.
At the college, we are preparing for New Man Weekend, which takes place the weekend following Thanksgiving. There are many fun things for the community to do and see. The highlight of the weekend is the Spaghetti Bowl. This North American College tradition is a flag football game between the New Men and the Old Men from the college. In years past, the Old Men tend to win, in part because they have the entire seminary to scout through, while the New Men have limited numbers. However, I think we might have a chance to win this year.
QB James Platania fires a pass to his receiver.
The Spaghetti Bowl Old Men Team openly wept while watching the incredible football skills of the New Men of '13.
New Men finish up practice with a prayer of thanksgiving.
In addition to the Spaghetti Bowl, we also have a talent show and a huge Thanksgiving Banquet, which the college is known for holding. Many Americans in Rome that are not associated with an American organization are welcomed to the North American College for this special feast, unique to the United States. One of the Scottish seminarians told me yesterday that he heard that tickets for the banquet go for a thousand dollars. Can you believe that? He asked me if it was true and I assured him it was not. It is more like two thousand! haha The whole point of keeping us busy during Thanksgiving Weekend is to keep us from missing home too much. Thanksgiving is such a family-oriented holiday and I am looking forward to video conferencing with my family during our annual Family Thanksgiving Dinner at my house. It will be nice to see my grandmother, cousins, aunts, uncles, and my immediate family. I am so thankful for SKYPE! It has helped me feel closer to home every time I talk to my family and friends from back home.
Finally there is some good news for the North American College! It is possible that the seminarians from the college will be invited to a private audience with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, early next year to commemorate the close of the 150 year anniversary celebration of the founding of the North American College in Rome. The college is the largest national seminary in Rome, celebrating a big anniversary, and during the Year of the Priest. I think our chances are pretty good that it will actually happen.
That is about all that is going on right now in Rome! Ciao!
Getting Ready for a Change
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. My name is Brian Buettner and I am a Catholic seminarian from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Zoology – Biomedical Science in 2006, and then attended Conception Seminary College where I obtained a Bachelor’s of Philosophical and Theological Studies. It seems like I have been in school forever, but this next step is going to be completely different from anything I have every done. I have been assigned to study Theology in Rome, Italy! I will be living at the Pontifical North American College and will attend classes at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
I began the completing the application packet and visa process in February and finished my last preparatory step two weeks ago when I shipped my personal affects to the Eternal City. I am now living out of just two suitcases. It is hard to describe what it feels like to prepare to leave the country with a one-way plane ticket. It is exciting because of the wonderful experience that I know is waiting for me in Rome, but it is so hard to leave my family, friends, and even my hometown. I will not be able to come back home to visit for two years. So many things have been swirling through my mind about what things will be like when I return. However, I am happy to know that I will be able to still be connected to everyone with today’s technology. I think e-mail and Skype will be a huge asset!
I wanted this first blog entry to be a very general introduction and I look forward to keeping this blog up-to-date.
