Father Michael's Column

We all need to have balance in our lives. One way to achieve that balance is by taking time out to get away from the demands of work or our typically frenetic schedules—and take time to slow down, relax with the Lord, and maybe watch a sunset. That can be done (probably should be done) on a daily or at least a weekly basis, but it also helps to have a more extended effort at balance by taking a vacation. In fact, my idea of a vacation is not to frantically keep up with an itinerary of places to see and things to do. Do you remember the movie, “If this is Tuesday, this must be Belgium”? Although sometimes just a change of scenery and visiting new places can bring perspective and be enjoyable for some, for me, I just want to find calm. 

Beginning on August 11^th, I will be on vacation for 3 weeks and expect to be back on September 1. Say a prayer that it be a time of refreshment and renewal for me. I’ll need that since things always seem to pick up around the parish after Labor Day. 

Getting ready for vacation is always a bit of a struggle though, because there is always so much that needs to get done first—but I’m sure you can all relate to that. Most of our lives have so many demands! And when you try to squeeze in a break, it can seem even more demanding! Before leaving for vacation, the real challenge is to “catch up” on our work first! It’s going to be a scramble to see if I can leave on Tuesday the 11^th as planned.

Whether it’s you or me, at some point we finally are forced to admit that trying to get everything done is impossible. At that point, it’s best to resign yourself to just do as much as you can, and leave the rest up to God. I remember an older pastor I once knew who used to offer this advice when the struggle to “do” became overwhelming: “Leave something for the angels!” Not bad advice at any time, and good advice to remember when preparing for vacation, because you know that when you get back, there will be more work that piled up while you were gone! Oh well, it’s the Lord’s work anyway, and as long as we’re willing to cooperate with what He asks, I’m sure He’ll accomplish what He wants. 

Typically, on one of the weekends I am gone, we welcome a guest priest, a missionary, to share some insights into the work of the Church in other parts of the world. This year, on the weekend of August 15-16, our guest priest, will be from the diocese of Punalour, India, and there will be more information in next week’s bulletin. 

It’s very good that our diocese has such a “Missionary Cooperation Plan”, whereby once a year dedicated Missionaries are invited to speak in the parishes. These kinds of presentations help us understand that all of us, as disciples of Christ, have an obligation to spread the Word. After all, we are all ultimately engaged in the same Mission. I am convinced that Catholics, in general, need to become much more aware of the Lord’s command to bring others to the Faith. 

We must never forget though, that the missionary efforts of the Church are not reserved to religious orders. We must also see ourselves as missionaries, and I think our vision of mission is coming into sharper focus! I believe our Parish has definitely and irrevocably moved from “maintenance” to “Mission”. 

We bring others to the Faith by being evangelists ourselves, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. We do it by our prayer for the spread of the Gospel. We do it through our lived example to the people we come in contact with. But we also do it by our direct efforts with individuals we know. A good place to start might be with someone whom you know has lapsed from the steady practice of their faith. Pray for the ones you want to invite back, and when you sense the Holy Spirit is telling you that the time is right, personally invite them back to Church. The strategy is: “Invite, and Accompany!” 



While I’m away, the Parish—as always—will be in my prayers. Please keep me in yours.

In Jesus,
Father Michael