Thank You!!

Thank all of you for your kind words concerning the birth of Ezekiel. We are so very grateful for all your prayers and support - much more than words can ever express. Your prayers and support have kept us going on so many occasions when it seemed easier to say "Forget it." and come home. Thank you for interceding for us. Every prayer makes a huge difference in our lives.

We pray for you all everyday!

valentines day!

Hey its C.J. Today is Valentines Day so I don't know how it's going to be in Austria??? I hope we have a party! I bet F.U.S does (Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio). Remember though that today is about how St.Valentine became a martyr. There were three different St.Valentines all remembered on Feb 14 (get the name) =^). St. Valentine is the patron saint of people in love. Even though Valentines Day is fun and I like the candy let us remember St.Valentine in respect. I have got to go. Word out Cody Lee.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

With the coming of baby Ezekiel, I completely forgot that we passed the six month mark?? I can't believe that we have been here six months already!! I have always marveled how time seems to go faster the older you are. There were times i thought we'd never make this far. God is so good. We look forward to the next six months as Ezekiel grows and changes so fast.

He’s here!!

Ezekiel Thomas Lee was born today, February 10th, at 1:40 pm Austria time. He was 3.4 kg (7.5lb) and 52 cm (21 in.) long. It was a long 24hr labor. Mom needed a little induction to progress but everything is fine. Mom and baby are healthy and happy! She should be home tomorrow sometime. The Austrian hospital was wonderful. The Lord is so very good!!

The Dead Theologian's Society

You might be asking yourself, "What is the Dead Theologian Society"? You might even be saying, what a strange name? The Dead Theologian Society is a Catholic Apostolate for teens. D.T.S. teaches teens from today how to become the saints of tomorrow by inspiring them by the lives of the saints. D.T.S. strives to teach teens about the lives of the saints, about their heroic virtues, and by teaching them the content of the saints inspirational writings. D.T.S.'s goal is to train up today's youth to be positive role models and to obtain the virtues that the saints perfected, so that the youth of today can live out their Catholic faith to its fullest.

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend D.T.S.'s Franciscan University chapter in Gaming, Austria. When we arrived we all came in and took a seat. Then the leader of the group taught us about a saint. We then as a group discussed the saint and what we each personally knew about the saint. We ended the evening with praying a decade of the rosary and various other prayers. Then the class ended and we socialized with the group and personally discussed with each other about what we had learned during our evening. This is a really fun way to learn about saints! If you live anywhere near a group of D.T.S. I personally recommend you joining the group.

For more information on a D.T.S. Chapter near you go to: www.deadtheologianssociety.com

Poor Priests and Poker...

Say that three times fast... ;-)

We have had a little poker gathering on a couple Friday nights with the priests and profs from Franciscan University. What a blast! It is so fun to gather with people that are interested in having fun - but good, clean fun...which is 'funner' that the 'fun' I used to have before I knew the Lord!

We have two Franciscan Priest's that host the get together. What fantastic men. They even have enough money for the massive €2 buy-in!! ;-) The first time we played I won the whole night. I got creamed the time after that.

When you live in a place where you have no car, no TV, no radio, no movie theater, etc. it sure is nice to have good company, good food, and especially good cards!

It is so good to be Catholic!

Wait a minute....

I was reading an article today from a certain Father Cozzens about priestly celibacy. He gives the same old story about that it should be re-visited and eventually optional.

Here in Gaming, we live among several Eastern Rite priests that are married. The sacrifice of their wives and families is enormous. They survive partly because in the East the parishes are quite small (or there are many priests) to lighten the load.

Anyway, I don't link and comment to this story to discuss celibacy, as such. I want to point out a very interesting comment that he makes at the end of the article that is crucial for us to understand as Christians. Let's pick up the article:

Cozzens, 67, a priest for 41 years, says he has been faithful to the celibacy vow. "Celibacy has worked in my life and that is due to the grace of God," he said.

A moment later, however, paraphrasing poet T.S. Eliot, he confessed that "at times I feel it's cost not less than everything."

When did the Lord EVER teach that it costs less than everything??

He said, "For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. Mark 8:35

and

"If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26

Jesus, in the above passage, is using hyperbole to make his point: to be his disciple he must be first in everything.

Jesus gave us everything in love - to the very last drop of his Precious Blood - so that we might in return give everything - our very selves - in love.

So yes, Father. He calls for everything. To the extent we keep a part of ourselves for ourselves whether it be sex, family size, money, possessions, our own opinions that contradict Church teaching, or time (etc., etc.) from the Lord is the extent that we are separated from him; thereby living a life less than the full, abundant life he desires for us.

We only fully realize ourselves in full union with him. We are only in union with him when we give ourselves completely to him.