A Sunny Day in Ft. Worth, Texas

Today was lovely, sunny day in Ft. Worth, Texas. Mary Lynne and I took young AJ out for a stroll in downtown, and we took these pictures! AJ is 13 months old tomorrow, October 18, 2006, and is just one big bundle of joy!

Diane Gonzales Bertrand Book Reading

We went to visit our friend and colleague, Diane Gonzales Bertrand, who was invited by the Ft. Worth Public Library to read her children's stories on Saturday, 14 October 2006. She read at the Seminary Branch Library (501 East Bolt Street, Ft. Worth, Texas 76110) to a crowd of enthusiastic young fans! It was great to visit with her, and catch-up on the news of our friends at St. Mary's University (Diane is in the English Department with Mary Lynne). It was fun to see you, Diane!

The Canon Law Society of America

This week I have been attending the annual meeting of the Canon Law Society of America, which is being held here in Ft. Worth, Texas.

68TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
CANON LAW SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Renaissance Worthington Hotel
200 Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
October 9th – 12th, 2006

On October 8th & 9th, I attended a pre-conference workshop titled: "ROTA JURISPRUDENCE AND FORMAL MARRIAGE CASES," presented by Most Rev. Monsignor Kenneth E. Boccafola, Judge of the Roman Rota, Rome, Italy, and the Rev. Monsignor A. Varvaro of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.

The conference sessions begin tomorrow, and I am looking forward to them!

canon law

AJ's Birthday in the New House!

Here is the new house on the farm in Ft. Worth! Tonight, Sunday, 17 September 2006, is the night before AJ's first birthday, so we had a big "Thanksgiving" dinner - complete with Turkey, dressing, and cranberries! - to celebrate his birthday. We are happy to be here at the family farm, and we are blessed to be surrounded by family as we say "Thanks!" for our healthy baby boy.

Cardiff, Wales

This week was my last set of classes for the LL.M. degree in canon law through the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff University. The pictures were taken at St. Michael's Theological College, which is where we hold classes every three months. With the coursework finished, now all I need to do is finish the thesis by 15 December 2006!

canon law

Visiting Trinity, Day 2

[Photos: The Marianist Brothers at their community house in Ballybrack, Fr. Michael Reaume, SM (left) and Bro. Fred Rech, SM; flowers in St. Stephen's Green; and the last three are from the grounds of the ISE]

Today is Thursday, 07 September 06, and I had a great day in Dublin! I met with Prof. John D'Arcy May from the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE), and we talked about my proposal and how he could help me with my research. I also saw briefly Dr. Linda Hogan, who will be my advisor, and talked with Christine Houlahan, who helped me with some of the administrative and logistical aspects of the program.

Afterwards, I managed to find the Marianist brothers down in Loughlinstown (where they have a school), and I joined them for Mass and dinner at their community house (which is in Ballybrack, near the Kiliney DART station).

Their house is gorgeous, and they were quite friendly; it was a great connection to the Marianist Family. Seriously, they could not have been more welcoming, and they are some great guys. After dinner, one of the guys walked me down to the DART station (a short walk), and - I am not making this up - as you stand on the platform, you can hear the ocean waves breaking on the beach below you!

I am currently at an internet cafe in Dun Laoghaire (the port which has the Ferry Terminal), but I need to run, as tomorrow I have an early flight to London, lunch with Jack Calentine, his wife Gracie, and Dan Long, and then a train to Cardiff!

marianist

Visiting Trinity

Today is Wednesday, 06 Sept 06, and I am in Ireland visiting with Dr. Linda Hogan. She has agreed to be my tutor (i.e. dissertation advisor) for the Ph.D. at the Irish School of Ecumenics at Trinity College Dublin. This is my first visit back since I was admitted to the program, and I am whistling as I skip down the streets!

That despite catching the 4:20 p.m. British Airways flight out of D/FW, transferring to Ryan Air at London Gatewick, checking in to the student dorms at Dublin City University, riding the bus to the other side of town, and getting to my appointment at the ISE just in the nick of time!

I had a great conversation with Dr. Hogan, and I am looking forward to working with her at the ISE. For now, I have to get some sleep! Tomorrow: pictures!

Trinity Says "Yes!"

Just got the word from Trinity College Dublin, and I have been admitted to the Ph.D. program for the spring term!

I leave tomorrow for Ireland, and will meet with the head of the school, and my new advisor. For the record, I am very excited about this! I interviewed at Trinity in January and July, and I have been holding my breath a long time! For the last two years, I have been challenged and happy in Wales, but the chance to study at Trinity is an unsurpassable opportunity.

Now, the program begins in the spring semester. For the fall, I am finishing my coursework and thesis for the LL.M. at Cardiff University in Wales, which is due 15 Dec 2006. So, for now, we are living at the family farm in Ft. Worth, which has been wonderful (my parents are enjoying having little "AJ" around!). Because we are going to be here through December, I also took a part-time job, teaching Philosophy at Tarrant County College (which has been great fun, and it leaves me time to work on the thesis - see below!).

Well, we are busy, happy, and thrilled about the great news from Ireland! More soon....


From: "Hill, Andrew"
To:
Subject: FW: Registration to higher degree by research with the Irish School of Ecumenics
Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2006 16:57:47 -0500

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Admissions [mailto:Research.Admissions@tcd.ie]
Sent: Mon 9/4/2006 6:41 AM
To: Hill, Andrew
Cc:
Subject: Registration to higher degree by research with the Irish School of Ecumenics

Dear Andrew,

The Irish School of Ecumenics has recommended your acceptance to the
postgraduate research register for April 2007.

Your formal letter of offer and registration details will follow shortly.

Kind regards,

Anne Doyle
Executive Officer
Research Admissions
Graduate Studies Office
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Tel: (+353 01) 896 3354
Fax: (+ 353 01) 671 2821
www.tcd.ie

Please Clean that Baby!

Keeping this kid clean, dry and fed is one MAJOR chore! However, it is blessing, and we are happy to be a part of his life!

AJ visits Aunt Naomi in Mississippi