The New Job: The University of Dallas

I have been hired as the Assistant Director of the Institute for Religious and Pastoral Studies (IRPS) of the University of Dallas. Our job is to meet the needs of area dioceses with respect to educating competent, professional ministers for church leadership. The Institute has been widely recognized as an important center for learning theology, developing pastoral skills, and fostering spiritual growth. The IRPS has grown significantly over the last twenty years, and today has over 100 graduate students in five master's programs, over 600 Biblical School students, and over 130 students in deacon aspirant and faith formation programs in the dioceses of Dallas and Tyler.

I will have a number of administrative responsibilities, including: admission decisions; student affairs issues; course scheduling; marketing & fundraising; and even planning graduation ceremonies. I will also teach in our graduate programs.

The people are fabulous, and so far all is off to a good start. For more information, see:

http://www.udministry.blogspot.com/

http://www.somspecialevents.blogspot.com/

http://www.catholicbiblicalschool.blogspot.com/

http://www.udallas.edu/irps/

AJ and the Longhorn

The Family at the Farm: March 9-11, 2007

An Evening Listening to Joseph Gaines Sing!

On Friday, 02 March 07, we had the great opportunity to hear our old friend, Joseph Gaines, sing as part of the Choir of St. Thomas Church of New York City. They were performing here in Ft. Worth, as part of a national tour. Here is more about Joseph:

Joseph Gaines, tenor

Joe Gaines ('96) graduated from the University of Houston in 2001 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. He then studied singing for a year at the Felix Mendelssohn College of Music and Drama in Leipzig, Germany under the auspices of a Rotary Foundation fellowship. This season Joe is singing as an apprentice artist at Sarasota Opera (Florida) and Central City Opera (Colorado), and is a featured soloist in Houston with the Mercury Baroque Ensemble, the Houston Chamber Choir, the Houston Bach Society, and in Washington, D.C. with the Washington Bach Consort. This past fall in New York City he was singing with the choirs of St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, and the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. He is also the founder of a gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender outreach program of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Houston.

The Water Gardens Reopen

Mary Lynne and I took AJ down to the Fort Worth Water Gardens, which officially reopened today with a special ceremony. A plaque was unveiled commemorating the four Chicago visitors who drowned in 2004 and two men killed in a 1991 accident. Mayor Mike Moncrief spoke, along with Bob Pence, president of the engineering firm that designed the changes.

"This park was designed by Phillip Johnson from New York. It was constructed by Thos. S. Byrne General Contractors in Fort Worth. The water park is an oasis in the concrete jungle of the center of town. The park features three pools of water: the aerating pool, the quiet pool, and the active pool with water tumbling down a series of terraces down to a small pit. Recently, the gardens have been modified to allow direct access from the Convention Center expansion. This includes a new north entrance to the park and restoration of the multiple sprays in the aerating pool. Portions of the movie Logan's Run were filmed at the active pool."

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/water.htm

The Conference of Marianist Boards in Dallas

The Conference of Marianist Boards met 15-18 February 2007 in Dallas. Although we are no longer serving on a board, Mary Lynne and I are past members of the Mission and Ministry Board, so we decided to visit some old friends during their lunch and dinner breaks on Saturday, 17 February 07.

The Marianist Family On-line described the event this way: "Bro. Jack Ventura and Tony Fitzgerald chaired a task force that made the conference a reality – bringing together those who serve on Marianist boards and the presidents/directors of more than 30 Marianist institutions. Approximately 100 participants represented universities, secondary and middle schools and retreat centers as well as NACMS, Marianist LIFE, the Marianist Volunteer Program (MVP), the Marianist Mission, and the Center for Marianist Spirituality and Communities (CMSC). Provincial Stephen Glodek gave the keynote address, “Sharpening Blunt Intentions: Reflections on the Stewardship of Marianist Boards.” Read the address."

For more photos of the event, see the Marianist Family On-line.

Cowboys: Feeding Time with Cousin Eddie and Aunt Susan!

Feeding the cows on the farm!

Cowboys: Riding the Range with Mama!

The closeup shots are from our horse barn; but the bottom two photos are pictures of our neighbor's horses - he has a few! The photos are thumbnails, so click on them to see a bigger version.

Cowboys: Riding the Range with Daddy!

Looking Back at the Old Days....St. Mary's University

Just missing our friends and colleagues at St. Mary's... we miss you!