I know, I know, I’ve been missed. I haven’t blogged in two weeks and everyone noticed…you did notice, right?

I recently rode with Justin Biance from Tallahassee to Pensacola to see the Knighting Ceremony there. It was pretty powerful stuff to see the brothers take pride in all their accomplishments throughout the year and be likewise recognized.

As soon as I walked into the reception afterwards I was greeted with smiles and “welcome backs” from the Captains and brothers alike. This is especially awesome because they haven’t seen me since the first week of February. As I was scrambling to remember names, calling some brothers “buddy,” others “buckaroo”, still others “pal,” they knew what I was up too. They all approached me with questions, all of them unique. They were asking if I was going to be attending summer camp. They asked how I’ve been. They asked how Tallahassee was doing. They asked why the sky was blue. A brother with big Bambi eyes asked me if I was the new Pensacola missionary. I didn’t know what else to say so of course I said “Yes.”

As the reception was winding down a brother approached me and said, “Thank you so much for all you’ve done. FRATERNUS has been awesome this year and I know it wouldn’t have been possible without you. Thanks so much for starting FRATERNUS.” Ummm…starting FRATERNUS? I’ve been known to start parties and fires before, but never non-profit organizations. Then I realized that he was confusing me with Justin Biance, CEO and founder of FRATERNUS. In our conversations in the ride to and from Pensacola I realized Justin and I have alot in common but never realized we were the SAME PERSON. We talked about cold-air intakes, FRATERNUS swords, and Tommy…OH MY! Justin and I are pretty much, like, the same person. We both work for FRATERNUS. We both graduated from college. We both have fathers. We both have Tommy as speed dial #2, second only to the Voicemail button locked in at #1. We both love Jeeps (Angela, I’m sorry for continuing to push him towards this). The comparisons continue.

Needless to say my time spent with Justin has given me a refreshing reiteration of vision, the conversation that lit my fire so long ago in January. So to Justin, thanks for the talk. And to the brother that thinks I’m Justin Biance, my answer is “You’re welcome. As the founder of this company, many more good things are coming. I can’t tell you specifically how big they are because God hasn’t told me yet, but it’s going to be AWESOME!”

Happy Biance Day readers!

(from now til eternity May 29th is Biance’s Day)

-KWess

So I am officially moved into my 1940’s one bed room "cottage" on Anastasia Island just across the bridge from downtown St. A. I could not ask for a better location as I can now fulfill me dream of riding my bike everywhere. To church, work, town, the beach, the store, the laundry mat. There is something simple and beautiful about living within five minutes to everything I need.

Simple. I like simple. That is one thing I am looking forward to this year…simplfing my job. Now that I am permanently in one place I feel like I can fully invest in one place. There is still a sense of mystery to the new year, new place and new people, but I know God will make all things clear.

Whatever happens, it will be an exciting year. With Pcola and TLH in year 2, I have a sense that each chapter is going to grow in numbers, but more importantly  deepen spiritually. Out here in St. A. the captains and commander are ready and wide-eyed. Not sure what to expect, but at the same time there are high expectations. I am stoked to be apart of another kick-off year!

Keep praying for us as we enter this new year.. for the captains, youth, families, missionaries and staff that God may provide so we can continue to further the mission!

FRATERNUS!

T$

Last week was the great feast of Ascension Thursday (transferred to Sunday in the US).  It was also my first full week at home with a newborn baby girl - that’s right, I’m a dad.  Being home (by the way in rained all week too), I was able to spend quite a bit of time meditating on the mystery of the Ascension as a I looked down at Margaret Mary Elizabeth Craig.  She’s so beautiful, she’s so small, she’s so helpless - and can you believe it? - Christ became like her to save us. Stay with me, I am talking about the Ascension and not the Incarnation (Christmas).

It’s of course a heresy to say that the second person of the Holy Trinity was made when Jesus was born.  He wasn’t made, the Word of God is eternally begotten (i.e. as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be).  But it is correct to say that Jesus Christ the man-God did not exist until the incarnation.  When Jesus was born of the Blessed Virgin, the Word was made flesh for the first time (everyone genuflect now).  My Lord assumed the same humanity that my daughter now has.  I can’t wait to tell her.  And then, as if to astound us even more, he took this humanity, which had been lowered to just above the demons by sin, up past the angels, archangels, and all the heavenly host to sit at the right hand of the Father.  That dignity is higher than we had before the fall!  Just like when he descended to earth he was not separated from the Father, when he ascended, humanity was still united to him.

I gazed down alot at my little girl last week joyful that I will be able to tell her that here on earth, the world is truly a valley of tears, but that our humanity has been raised to heaven, and we that’s our true home.  That’s what hope is.  We need to spend way more time thinking about the Ascension in the western Church (the east does a better job of that).  I’ll end with a much more eloquent quote from our Holy Father on this sublime truth:

"In Christ ascended into heaven, man has entered in a new and unheard of way into the intimacy of God; man now finds space in God forever. "Heaven" does not indicate a place beyond the stars but something more bold and sublime: it indicates Christ himself, the divine Person that completely and forever takes on humanity, he in whom God and man are united forever. And we draw near to heaven, indeed, we enter into heaven, to the extent that we draw near to Jesus and enter into communion with him. For this reason, today’s Solemnity of the Ascension invites us to a profound communion with Jesus dead and risen, invisibly present in the life of each of us."

I can not believe this year has come and gone. Looking back, I never dreamed that everything would turn out like it has. This year has been a blessing for FRATERNUS, but more importantly for ever brother and family who has poured their selves out so generously.

It all hit me on my move from Pensacola to St. Auggie. I woke up Monday morning after the Accolade Ceremony with a car fully pack. Chris helped me load up a few last items, then we were off to Chic-fila for one last chicken breakfast burrito. It was a rather sobering morning, knowing that "The Base" was no longer home, and that God was sending me to a new city, new community, new chapter and a new home. Pulling out of St. Paul’s Monday morning after a meeting with Father Joe, I could not withhold the tears any longer.

Over the next six hours on I-10, I  there was a sadness, but there was also a hope and joy of what God has done and is doing in Pensacola.

FRATERNUS Pensacola, you rock! I will miss you!

I know I will see you soon at…The RANCH!

FRATENRUS!

T$

We formally closed the first year of FRAT Nights with the first annual Knighting Ceremony taking place at both chapters last week.

Though it was a lot of work preparing for the occasion, it was more than worth it.  In Pensacola we spent the entire week getting ready:  engraving swords and plaques, rehearsing with the captains, coordinating the pot luck reception, getting centerpieces made, etc.  It all came together in one memorable event Sunday night, with our Commander leading everyone in the advancement of rank.

For those of you who were unable to join us, the idea is simple:  Every week during the year, the brothers participate in a virtue-based challenge, and if they complete the challenges, they receive a patch symbolizing that particular virtue.  At the knighting ceremony, we recognize the achievements over the course of the year.  The brothers are called up by grade and their captain recognizes each of them individually for having advanced to the upcoming year.  The junior brothers receive pins for their shirt, and the senior brothers receive dog tags.  Seniors in high school, of course, are knighted and receive the FRATERNUS Sword.

So congrats to the Rangers, Warriors, Novices and Senior Brothers who advanced on Sunday.

We also unveiled the Fialka award, a special individual award given to an outstanding junior brother (or in our case, two junior brothers).  It’s named after Nik Fialka, a household name in these parts, best known for flying airplanes, renovating bathrooms, and making FRATERNUS Pensacola run on all cylinders.  Special congratulations to the first ever recipients of the Fialka Award, James and Xavier.  The presentation of this award was so powerful that our Commander got a little choked up at the ambo as he announced the names of the recipients.

The climax of the Knighting Ceremony was, of course, the Knighting.  It was quite a sight to behold.  The lights dimmed, and everyone present was silent.  All eyes focused on Sean, our first Knight Elect, positioned at the rear of the church with his mother.  She sent her son down the aisle, where his father was waiting.  Father embraced son, and spoke words of encouragement audible only to his son.  Sean turned to face the altar and knelt before our priest and our Commander, who wielded the FRATERNUS Sword.  Father Joe laid hands on Sean, blessed him, and blessed the sword.

As the Commander dubbed Sean’s shoulders and head, he commissioned him to live by and fight for the three pillars of FRATERNUS:  Chastity, Integrity, and Discipleship.  Our new FRATERNUS Knight rose, received his sword, and turned to face all those gathered for the event, who greeted their new Knight with thunderous applause.

Congratulations, Sean, Pensacola’s first FRATERNUS Knight!

All in all, it was quite a way to end our school year.  After the ceremony and reception were over, and all families had returned home, the two Pensacola missionaries remained, cleaning up the little mess that was left and locking up the church.  The two cleaned more or less in silence, slowly winding down after a very busy day.  It was a very reflective time.  For one, it was his last night in town after a year of giving himself completely to the Pensacola chapter.  The busy and joyful day followed by the abrupt silence and solitude allowed him to think, for the first time that day, that this was his last FRATERNUS event in Pensacola.  For me, the silence allowed me to think about how far the chapter had come in a year, and what might be in store for next year.  Once we were finished cleaning, I remained in the parking lot for a moment, watching my fellow FRATERNUS missionary, roommate, and friend drove away from St. Paul’s for the last time.  Exhausted, I turned and walked over to the statue of Our Lady in the corner of the plaza in front of the church and sat down.  After everything that happened that day, from preparation to worry to excitement back to worry to irritation to elation to sadness and finally arriving at fatigue, I needed those few moments.

Thanks to everyone who made it a great first year

Next up:  SUMMER CAMP!

I went to the Doctor today and I was given some life changing news. The Dr. told me I have an incurable ailment that only affects about 10% of the population.

I am color blind.

Don’t fear friends, I’m going to be strong.

Yesterday I was flipping through the old Facebook and saw a quiz for “See if you’re color blind” test. Now I’ve always joked around about being color blind because I have a hard time telling Lemon Yellow from Sunburst Yellow. So I clicked on the link just to put my mind at ease. The test consists of a series of circles made up of multi-colored dots. If you are not color blind you should be able to see a number in the middle. Well I got the first one right, but none of the rest. I thought, “Hmm, maybe this is a scam and this website is just trying to make you think you’re color blind.” So I got my Dad to come look at the screen. When I asked him what he saw and he rattled off, “25, 15, 8, 6, 45…” I decided to schedule a trip to the eye doctor.

After a quick test using similar tests the Doctor just looked at me and said… “If you get less than 10 out of 15 right, you’re diagnosed as color blind. You got 6 right. Don’t plan on a career in Interior Design.”

In reality this isn’t that big a deal as I’ve been like this for almost 30 years and it hasn’t bothered me yet. But it did make me start thinking about things. I see things differently than 90% of the world. What I conceive as “blue” may look completely different to someone else. It’s just amazing to think of how much of our reality is shaped by what we take in through our eyes.

As I was driving home and almost ran through a purple light, it hit me. My relationship with Christ is the same way. I see things differently than a majority of the world. And the way my reality has been shaped has been by what I’ve taken in through my eyes by reading and studying His Word. The rest of the world would not know I’m different just by looking at me. It only becomes evident when an issue comes up and we share our point of view. When a majority of the world sees a piece of bread and some wine they see just that, bread and wine. When I look I see Redemption. I see Sacrifice. I see Love. It takes a special set of eyes for that; eyes that are given to us by the Father.

Well I’m off to have Kevin color code all my outfits for next week.

Yeah…I would be the one to write this.

The building blocks of the human body are protein. The english word protein comes from the Greek term proteios , which means "of primary importance or that which comes first." Protein is required for the repair, function, and regulation of the body’s cells, tissues, and organs. I’m sure there is alot of technical stuff going on during the process, but biology was never my thing and if you know what’s happening your jargon won’t impress me.

You might ask, "Where is the spiritual connection?" It’s a FRATERNUS blog, there has to be a spiritual connection. Hold on baby birds, I’ll feed you.

Before anything else is put onto our schedules, we, as FRATERNUS employees, figure out when we’ll pray. This is of importance to you to help you understand what the FRATERNUS missionaries are doing behind the scenes. Missionaries cannot give what they do not have. This is why we, as missionaries, go to mass and do a holy hour daily. It is our spiritual proteios, it’s "what comes first and it’s of primary importance ." We ARE praying for you, our supporters and benefactors. We are praying for you daily.

God Bless

KWess

I love hemp milk.

Hey friends,

So last night on Cinco De Mayo, (the day most Americans mistake as Mexican Independence Day or the Mexican St. Patrick’s Day) we at the Mancave (The house Kevin and I live in with our benevolent landlord and roommate Francisco) had a house blessing. Well technically Fr. Chris did the blessing, we just stood around and watched.

It’s quite a thing this House Blessing. Fr. Chris, a man from the priestly lineage of the twelve apostles, does the same thing Christ instructed the 72 in the Gospel of Luke.
“Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him…”

So Fr. Chris blessed not only our drywall and tile, he blessed us as well. And that blessing comes directly from Christ! All we had to do was provide the tacos. That’s a pretty even trade if you ask me.

After the blessing, we gathered with about 10 people from our Catholic Young Adult Group and some other distinguished guests to chow down on some of the best Tex Mex that’s ever been made… in our house… on Tuesday. Having people over to your house creates all kinds of excitement. For me, the biggest excitement is that I was finally motivated to clean my room. I’ve lived here for almost 6 months and I’m sad to say that yesterday was the first time I vacuumed. If that makes me a bad person, so be it!

I think I’m going to look at my carpet for a while before all the stuff I have hidden in closets, behind doors and under my bed explodes to cover it up again.

mDub

WHAP! I get hit upside the head by an orange rubber ball, thrown 4 feet away by an 8th grader built like a college sophomore linebacker. As I pick my beaten body up from the ground, not only am I dizzy but I need to figure out what just happened. Welcome to PegBall (Trademark Pending). The tools of destruction are rubber balls with Looney Tunes characters, each ball with it’s own deadly sin on it. (I can’t make this stuff up!) Because we only have 5 balls, we needn’t worry about sloth or pride. PegBall is a close, albeit odd cousin of DodgeBall. It’s like dodgeball but without boundaries, static teams, a central dividing line, people sitting out when hit, a “no-shots-to-the-face” rule, a referee, or a clear winner. It sometimes morphs into KeepAway for a few seconds at a time. People constantly switch teams. Brothers target the missionaries and Captains. No one has any idea what is happening but every brother still wants to win a game with no clear objective to it.

This is just one of the aspects of FRAT night I will miss for the duration of the summer. The next few months will hopefully help me regain trust in everyone around me (which was of course shattered by the constantly morphing teams and targets). The last FRAT night of the 08-09 school year was one of high energy (per usual). We discussed Charity, watched a clip from SpiderMan3, and discussed Marriage in squad time. We had yet another new Sr. Brother, attracted to the program by one of our very own HAWC guys. All in all I was impressed.

As I hand out invitations to the Accolade Ceremony to all the brothers, I am soon surrounded by oodles of Brothers. As I feel myself being pushed backwards, whoever I was leaning on soon yields and I crash to the ground. The forms are ripped from my hands and then this turns into a game of KeepAway with the invites. I’m helped back to my feet by a Jr. Brother, he comments “You just got destroyed for half sheets of paper.”

This was a milestone with FRATERNUS. Keep posted for my post-accolade ceremony thoughts.

God Bless

KWess

Rev your engines! We are going to have the most intense 1-2 punch of the year in FRATERNUS! Seriously between the Accolade Ceremony and The Ranch….I think I will need a few weeks off to catch my breath!

If you thought retreat, EXPOSURE, HAWC, FRAT Night was sweet..you aint seen noothing! I do not know how to describe it, because its never happened before in the history of the world, but I am in on the planning, coordinating and behind-the-scenes, and I have not seen anything like it. Youth Ministry? Yes, but with a who new spin, or shall I say SWORD!

We will keep you informed, and I will especially keep you informed about the Ranch! Its going to be sweet! White-water, high ropes, rock climbing, trail blazing, capture the flag and one sweet week long theme….that is to be revealed on June 7th!

FRATERNUS!

T$