Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Mardi Gras at Sangre

Happy Mardi Gras at Sangre. Have a blessed Ash Wednesday and Lenten season. Be assured of my prayers for all of you as you journey with the Lord during this season of renewal, prayer and conversion.

Valentine's Day

Photos - Valentine's day at Sangre de Cristo

Photos of Sangre de Cristo

Here are picture of Sangre de Cristo

Sangre de Cristo

Sangre de Cristo Center, 12 miles northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico provides a sabbatical program for religious men and women and diocesan priests, in their middle years. The Center was founded in 1962 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. This is the 90th session and there have been over 8,000 participants over the past 45 years. This session which began on February 5, 2007 will conclude a 100 days retreat on May 15, 2007. I'm so glad to be here for this session which has 36 religious and diocesan priests from all over the world. What a wealth of resource. It will be a great time for me to integrate first half of my sabbatical. Prayer and liturgy includes Eucharist, quiet time during the day, a silent, eight-day directed retreat, regular desert days and spiritual direction on a weekly basis with one of the program directors. Another aspect of the program includes presentations and discussions in theology, psychology, spirituality, religious life, ministry, social awareness and life planning. There are also important emphasis on community relationships including small groups, informal as well as formal, social gatherings and time for relaxation including visits to the city of Santa Fe and surrounding areas of Sangre Center. What a blessing to be here; be assured that I will be remembering all of you in my prayers during this renewal program.

Transitions

After spending the first half of my sabbatical in Europe, Philippines, and Australia, I came back to the United States on January 27, 2007 from Sydney, Australia. I arrived in San Francisco in the afternoon on that same day. Spent the weekend at our Cupertino residence and sharing my sabbatical experiences with our brothers at the Villa and San Juan Community. Later that week I went to Santa Cruz and stayed at the Newman Center. That Monday evening I attended the Vesper service for the new Bishop of Monterey. Bishop Richard Garcia was installed the following day in Monterey; what an impressive and memorable event for the Diocese of Monterey. It was great to see many of my friends, religious sisters and brothers and diocesan priest at the Installation and the reception after the ceremony. During the week I had an opportunity to visit my local dentist and doctor and check up on my health; my doctor gave me a clean bill of health along with my chiropractor and massage therapist - you may recall that I injured my right collar bone after my bike accident in July 2006. It was great spending time with friends in Santa Cruz and sharing my Sabbatical journeys. On Sunday after the Super Bowl, I concelebrated Mass on the UC - Santa Cruz campus with Fr. James. Great seeing many of the students at Mass and reception. Then I headed back to Cupertino where I left for Albuquerque, New Mexico the following morning to begin the 2nd half of my sabbatical at Sangre de Cristo located in the mountains of Sangre seven miles north of Santa Fe.