March Madness

March is flying by here at St. Josephs Seminary,

This month we've had the seminary ping pong tournament and Abbey Youth Fest (AYF) already, and are now gearing up for seminarian evaluations, 3 on 3 basketball league, midterms, and Easter. Wfhewf.

For starters the Seminary Ping Pong Tournament was a smash (Haha, I crack my self up). We had about twenty guys come out and put on their game faces to compete. After for preparing for a solid year of ping pong at the house in college station, I triumphantly won my first game... and was crushed to smithereens in the next. If you've played me before you wouldn't be surprised,  but I was happy enough to join in and watch the real masters.

In other sports related news, I've joined a few brave seminarians in training for a triathalon this May. While I don't have the kick to do the running leg of the tri, my brother seminarian Luis is going to relay this part for me. I'm looking forward to the 18 mile bike ride which is really the main reason why I'm interested in the whole gig, but if I can't find another team member, I'll be swimming the 1000 m by default. anyone have some water wings I can borrow? I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Now I had heard AYF is one of the largest youth conferences in the southwest, but I didn't know that it was put on by 100 seminarians and many volunteers hosting nearly 4000 adolescents and mainstream bands like Gungor and Sarah Kroger, Cool! This year we kicked it off the pre-event on Friday the 8th and the main event all day on Saturday. I have to say that even while on garbage duty I was moved and encouraged by the bands and talks. Lessons learned: 1. God wants us to be ourselves and minister to others in everyday life. 2. Our big "yeses" in life (marriage or priesthood) are validated by our little "noes to self" along the way (chastity and servant leadership). 3. Sunscreen is a friend I too often neglect. 4. Be bold in faith. I had a great time and look forward to attending some more conferences like this over the summer.

While the other stuff is happening toward the end of the month, and I hope to tell y'all about it later... I figure I could share with you some of the classes I'm taking at the moment: Ancient Philosophy ( Socrates, Plato, and later Aristotle), Medieval Philosophy (Anselm, Augustine, Aquinas, Averroes), New Testament (in depth commentary using critical historical method, writing a research paper on Romans), Metaphysics (studying "being", how we are ontologically different from God and animals), Catholic Social Teaching ( world issues like labor, conflict, human rights...) Spanish (basic class, hoping to master present and past tenses) Formation ( learning about priesthood and celibacy).

So in a nutshell,
I'm pretty busy, but I'm enjoying seminary so far. If you have questions, prayer requests, or comments you can leave them here or shoot me an email. ryan.stawaisz@gmail.com

God Bless!

All Glory to God. Amen.

Starting Anew

Getting off the phone after a short conversation with my parents, I snapped this picture of the Abbey church. Its 11:06 and I walk toward it as I pray my rosary meditating on Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom of God.

It’s been 18 months since I’ve last posted and I would expect that hardly any of you have a clue where I am or what I’m talking about.  To make a long story short, my remaining 1.5 semesters at Texas A&M were unforgettable. During that time there was no other place I would have rather been. But as I got back into the swing of things I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. Yes it sounds cliché, but that’s the best way I can describe it. Through reflection and prayer I was drawn to seriously research church ministry and how God may be asking me to fill this void by serving him full time. The thought of priesthood which I had dismissed as excruciatingly boring in my adolescence, now arose as a viable option. After more reading, retreats, and soul searching I decided if there was going to be a “what if” crossroads in my life that I would ponder on later and possibly regret, this was it. So I manned up, took the road less traveled and headed for a discernment program which eventually lead me here - to minor seminary to study philosophy for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

So there’s the condensed version. I’m planning to be here for the next 1.5 to 2.5 years and who knows what after that. In the mean time I'm enjoying the opportunity to learn more about my creator, myself, and the church. I reflect back on the verse I turned to at the start of this whole journey, John 15:7, and try to ask God for His will in my life.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

All Glory to God. Amen.