Into the Breach Once More

If you're a regular follower of my blog, you'll know that this is my third year at Fordham University. A full year of courses awaits, to be sure: Integration Seminar, Natural Law, Husserl, Fundamental Theology (all this semester) to be followed by Integration II, Transcendental Thomism, Levinas, and Merleau-Ponty (next semester). I think it's safe to say that there's a fair bit of work between now and the beginning of May!

Now the added bit of excitement to the third year of philosophy is the fabled Regency Assignment. Regency is the period of Jesuit formation that follows First Studies and often, although certainly not always, involves a man teaching in one of our high schools.

Although it's less dramatic than lining up for the Sorting Hat at Hogwart's, it's still an exciting time. Many of us daydream about where we'll do our regencies; indeed, many of us were directly influenced by young regents when we were in high school. So now the time approaches when we'll have the excitement of discerning just where it is that we will spend the next 2-3 years of our Jesuit lives.

My semester began today with Integration seminar. We read JP II's 'Fides et Ratio' and, for next week, we're to read a significant chunk of Aristotle's 'Physics.' Yep...ooodles of fun. While others are enjoying the balmy heat of the Bronx (it's 90-degrees outside now), I'll be curled up on my bed reading Aristotle and daydreaming about teaching legions high school students next year!