Itinerary

Tomorrow, after morning prayer and breakfast, I will leave San Lorenzo Seminary for the last time, at least as far as novitiate is concerned. God knows whether and when I will have the good fortune of returning for a visit some day. I will be going to Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang for the first profession of the California province novices. After the reception winds down, I will leave for the airport in Santa Barbara, there to fly to Los Angeles, lay over for a few hours, and then fly to JFK.

The rest of the week of transition until the first profession ceremony will go like this:

Sunday, July 14

6 a.m.: Arrive at JFK; go to Saint Michael Friary, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Midmorning until evening: Visit with family in Babylon, L.I.
9:30 p.m.: Night prayer, Saint Michael Friary

Monday, July 15

8 a.m.: Morning prayer, Saint Michael Friary
8:30 a.m.: Mass
11 a.m.: Lunchtime visit at Sacred Heart and Saint Clare Friaries, Yonkers, N.Y.
Afternoon: Travel to New Paltz, N.Y.; scenic stop at walkway over Hudson River Bridge
4:30-6:30 p.m.: Prayer and dinner, Saint Joseph Friary, New Paltz
Evening: Visit to Mount Mohonk, New Paltz, with night prayer

Tuesday, July 16

8 a.m.: Morning prayer, Saint Michael Friary
8:30 a.m.: Mass, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Brooklyn
10:30 a.m.: Visit Saint John the Baptist Friary, Manhattan
12:30 p.m.: Circle Line cruise
5:30 p.m.: Prayer and dinner at Our Lady of Sorrows Friary, Manhattan
9:30 p.m.: Night prayer at Saint Michael Friary

Wednesday, July 17

7 a.m.: Morning prayer, Saint Michael Friary
7:30 a.m.: Mass
9 a.m.: Depart for a day at San Lorenzo Friary, Jamaica Plain, Mass. This is to help us get our belongings settled at the post-novitiate house of formation. A "pre-moving day." And a foretaste of life to come! Hold tight, friends, until Aug. 1, the date I move back permanently.

Thursday, July 18

8:30 a.m.: Morning prayer, Saint Michael Friary
9 a.m.: Mass
10 a.m.: Meeting with Fr. Francis Gasparik, provincial minister
12 p.m.: Lunch at Good Shepherd Friary, Manhattan
2:30 p.m.: Rehearsal for profession ceremony, Sacred Heart Church, Yonkers
5 p.m.: Prayer and dinner, Saint Conrad Friary, White Plains, N.Y.

Friday, July 19

7 a.m.: Morning prayer, Saint Michael Friary
8 a.m.: Depart for day of recollection, Saint Joseph Villa, Saugerties, N.Y.
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Day of recollection
3 p.m.: Mass
4 p.m. Dinner with friars and sisters, Emiliani Ristorante, Saugerties. On the way back to Saint Michael Friary we will stop in New Paltz to enjoy a celebration of the Saint Joseph Festa, the annual parish festival.

Saturday, July 20

7 a.m.: Morning prayer, Saint Michael Friary
7:30 a.m.: Depart for profession ceremony
11 a.m.: Mass and profession ceremony, Sacred Heart Church, Yonkers, followed by reception with friars and families

As you can see, I will remain on a strict schedule up until the profession ceremony! After the reception begins vacation time, my first break in 14 months. I share this (detailed) schedule with you in order to keep you up to date, as my Internet time will be sporadic, not out of obedience to the novitiate program, but because of perpetual motion!