News from the Snowy East Coast

Message from Jar Pasalo

Over the past weeks I have found myself waking up to temperatures below freezing. As I lay in bed snuggled up in three layers of blankets, I think to myself, this is probably be the last time I will be living in this kind of weather. I can’t believe that I am in my final semester at seminary. This time, three years ago, seminary was just a thought, never a reality. I have never dreamed that I will have the chance to travel to theHoly Land. Never thought I would drive up to NewYork City, see the sights, and return on the same day or even drive 14 hours to Orlando, Florida to spend the weekend. Most of all, it was never part of my goals to obtain a graduate degree, yet alone, one focused in theology.Seminary has been the most challenging that I have done in my whole life. The funny thing is that it is justthe very beginning my journey. The next thing for me is graduation which will be on May 21, 2015. There are things in works for what I will do after that, but at the moment that is all I can share. I am continuallyamazed to see what God has in store for me next.Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.I look forward to returning home, where the sun is warm.
Aloha, Jar

Message from Annalise Castro

I am writing to you on my third snow day of the semester. It has been snowing all day, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon! I am not complaining,though. It has given me a day to catch up on the little things. School has been going very well. I gave up working my on-campus job, which has helped me immensely. My budget is tighter, but my grades have risen substantially. I am confident that this was the best decision for me. The second year is widely considered to be the most academically challenging of the three years. That has been my experience so far. I am learning a lot, though.I love the church where I am working, St. Patrick’s, very much! They have been incredibly supportive and gracious as I continue to learn and grow in ministry. I preach and participate in the liturgy regularly. I know that this will be one of my fondest memories of seminary.This summer I will be participating in the Clinical Pastoral Education program with Pacific HealthMinistries. I will be serving as a chaplain at Queens Hospital. I will be on staff during the day, with some classroom work and on-call weekends. CPE, as we refer to it, is an intense time that many priests point to as an incredibly important part of their formation. I am excited to return to Oahu to fulfill this requirement. Iwill do my best to show up to St. Peter’s when I am not at the hospital, but admittedly may need a few Sundays to relax and catch up on sleep! That is my most recent news. I hope everything is well back home! 
Blessings, Annalise