The New Job - Philosophy Professor!

On Monday, 27 August 06, I start teaching three sections of "Introduction to Philosophy" at Tarrant County College. It should be great teaching experience, and I am looking forward to meeting my new students!

I am teaching part-time, as I finish my thesis for the LL.M. at Cardiff University. Both the thesis, and my grades for the semester, are due on 15 December 06!!

Welcome to Matthew Glen Jackson!

The Eagle Has Landed!

This has been a good week, as we have been packing and visiting with friends as we prepared to move. We had a chance to visit with Patricia Mejia, have lunch with Bro. Ed Violett, and dinner with Kathleen Maloney and Camille Langston (pictured above with Rose Marie Cutting and Mary Lynne).

Mary Lynne had lunch with Diane Gonzales Bertrand, I had breakfast with Rey Gustamente, and we both had a chance to visit with Alice Kersnowski, who has been a wealth of information about Ireland.

I also had a chance on Wednesday to visit Brad and Ashley Jackson, and meet their new son, Matthew. He was born on Monday, 14 Aug 06, and weighed in at 8 lb.s 15 oz., and mother and son are doing well. Migdalia Garcia and I gave Ashley some flowers, and little "AJ" played with their three-year-old daughter, Morgan.

We drove on Thursday, 17 Aug 06, and almost as if to prove that you cannot leave St. Mary's behind, we ran into Dr. Patricia Owen (Chair, Psychology) when we stopped at the Post Office to change our address, and we ran into Deidra Coleman (Associate Director, Counseling & Testing) when we stopped in Temple, Texas at the McDonald's!
Small world!

Well, after our first night at the farm, I was back down the next day with my dad and brother in tow, as we packed up a 26' truck with furniture and appliances. We drove down Friday morning, packed the truck that afternoon, and drove back to the farm in Ft. Worth that night! Ouch!

We still have a few things at the house, but for now, we are trying to unpack and square-away what we have here. As we were unpacking, the cows came up to the door! No kidding, two GIANT longhorns came right up on the porch and looked in the windows! "AJ" loved it...and now we know why they call it "Cow Town!"

More moving news later!

Goodbye, for now...we will miss you!

This is the week! We are off to the farm!

We are slowly taking down and packing up the last pieces of the house. We plan to drive up to the family farm on Thursday (17 Aug 06), with a load of fragile items, and then I will come back on Friday to move up the big truck with the last of the furniture and appliances (probably arriving Saturday afternoon).

Of course, much of the furniture is already there, in Mom and Dad's garage or Mike and Dena's house. I should only have the one truck trip this weekend, so we hope to be settled in soon.

We brought the furniture down from upstairs today, with the help of our friends Marida and John Salinas, and Matthew Mangum. They came over with breakfast tacos, and we had a great visit and moved some furniture. It was great to see them, and wish them farewell.

Speaking of which, I had lunch with two of my all-time favorite people: Dan Rigney and Larry Hufford. I hit them up to write letters of recommendation for me for the program at Trinity, but it was more than just a business meeting: as always, it was great conversation, about things that matter, with enjoyable company.

In the afternoon, Mary Lynne packed up some items from her office at St. Mary's, and then came home for the "neighbors' dinner." Although Erin could not make it, Paul Garro and Debbie Patton came over, and Laurie B. Hawkins joined us from next door. And, of course, the honorary neighbor/land lord, Bro. Cletus Behlmann, S.M. came over too! He brought art supplies with him, so after dinner we all sat around the table having dessert, visiting, and painting pictures! Very fun!

This is the week! We are off to the farm!

Bro. Ed Violett, S.M., Ph.D. Elected as General Assistant for Temporalities

Hold the Presses!!

Just hours ago, Bro. Ed Violett, S.M., Ph.D., was elected to the General Administration of the Society of Mary at the XXXIII General Chapter in Rome; he has accepted the position of General Assistant for Temporalities.

Bro. Ed Violett, S.M., Ph.D. (St. Mary's University ’82) is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at St. Mary's University, and President of the Provincial Chapter in the Province of the United States of America.

The other two members of the G.A. will be Fr. Andre Fetis (Religious Life/from France) and Bro. Jose Maria Alvira (Education/from Spain).

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Good Father Manuel Cortes

Fr. Manuel Cortés, S.M., the 14th Superior General of the Society of Mary

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Fr. Manuel Cortés Elected Fourteenth Superior General of the Society of Mary

Fr. Manuel Cortés Elected Fourteenth Superior General of the Society of Mary

This afternoon, at the General Chapter of the Society of Mary (Marianists) currently in session at Villa Aurelia in Rome, the delegates elected Fr. Manuel Cortés, S.M. to become their 14th Superior General. He succeeds Fr. David Fleming, S.M. who just completed his second term as Superior General. Via Latina 22 ---- Video


Daily Bulletin— July 21, 2006
Via Latina 22
General Chapter Edition - Society of Mary

Following the celebration of the Eucharist and invocation of the Holy Spirit for the election before them, the delegates from all Marianist Units throughout the world met in General Assembly for voting. At the Eucharist, presider and homilist, Fr. Bernard Vial, S.M., called on the delegates to listen to the Spirit and to reflect upon the current needs of the congregation and who might best be called to leadership at this time. Later, Fr. Manuel was elected on the 2nd ballot.

Born in Valencia, Spain in 1945, Fr. Manuel entered the novitiate of Society of Mary in 1961. On September 12, 1962 he professed his first vows in Elorrio. Following several years of study, and some time teaching, he entered the Marianist Seminary in 1970 and was ordained on March 24, 1974 in Fribourg, Switzerland.

Throughout his more than forty years as a Marianist, Fr. Manuel has served has local community superior, school chaplain, Master of Novices and parish priest. In addition, he was Provincial of the Province of Zaragoza from 1989-1997. Fr. Manuel holds advanced degrees in Physical Sciences and Theology.

He is the author of several books. He also has the ability to communicate in several languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Italian. As the thirteenth successor to Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, Fr. Manuel will serve a term of six years, renewable once. He, along with three General Counselors who are soon to be elected, will serve as the leadership team of more than 1300 members of the Society of Mary.

The Society of Mary, present in some 30 countries, was founded by Blessed Chaminade in Bordeaux, France in 1817. It is one branch of the Marianist Family which also consists of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (FMI), Marianist Lay Communities (MLC) and a secular institute known as the Marian Alliance (AM). The Society of Mary was founded with the charism of “mixed composition”, namely that both brothers and priests live and work side by side, in community, with equal rights.

The General Chapter continues, with the election of the General Assistants. The Chapter is expected to continue until July 30th. During this time, directions and priorities for both the new General Council, as well as the Society as a whole, will be discussed and determined.

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andrewinlondon

Andy, Mary Lynne, and Baby "AJ"