A Note from Fr. Dale

 
"Then followed that beautiful season...Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summer is my favorite time of year. Growing up in Minnesota we learned to appreciate and relish summertime. Summer in Minnesota is a rare commodity. I recall it as a time of slowing down, a break from school, time with extended family, enjoying the outdoors and the beautiful weather. Even as a priest serving in Minnesota years ago, I recall how parish life shifted to a minimum, offices closed on Fridays and even weekend Mass schedules were abbreviated as people traveled to the lake or woods to enjoy and savor the short season of summer. In Minnesota there is a cultural expectation to value and appreciate the preciousness of summer.

Time is sacred. God only gives us so much time, literally moment by moment and day by day. More importantly, within time there are fleeting moments which hold opportunities for grace. Consider all the passing moments of life you hold dear; first word of a toddler, first day of school, graduations, weddings, and family vacations. There are sacred moments within conversations in which struggles or dreams are shared. There are the welcomes and goodbyes. Sometimes the most sacred of moments are discovered only later as we look back and reflect. God fills our lives with people, experiences and signs of love and His presence. These are moments in time that we don’t want to miss!

For most of us time seems too rare. We are so busy we even forget about time. If we are honest with ourselves (me included!), we have to admit that we need to recognize the sacred nature of time. It is not about becoming more efficient. It is approaching time from a spiritual perspective – God’s gift. Looking at time as God’s gift may help us to be better stewards. God gives us time for our good and for the good of others. Time management really is about priority management, or better management of grace. God gives us time, and we are the stewards of that most precious gift.

As summer begins, plan to take time to slow down, reflect and enjoy God’s creation and the gift of the people God has sent into your life. Take time for your relationship with God, family and friends. Don’t just plan more activities, even on vacation, but plan quality time together. It is more about being with people than doing things with or for them. (It helps to put electronics away!) Your time with them is limited and precious so make it quality time.

In our pastorate there will be some summer adjustments. Since we are down a priest almost every week over the summer due to Priest Convocation, France pilgrimage, and vacations, we have suspended the Monday evening Mass and Confessions at Holy Spirit until August 15 (there is Monday evening Mass and Confessions at St. John Vianney). As funerals come up we may also adjust confession and adoration times. We have our regular holiday schedule for Memorial Day and Independence Day. There will also be fewer scheduled meetings.

Besides this weekend marking the cultural beginning to summer, we take time as a nation for the holiday we call Memorial Day – a time to honor our military men and women who gave their lives for our country. Take some time this Monday to offer a prayer for all those who have given their lives to protect our freedom and thank God for their sacrifice. It is a small way to honor our fallen heroes.

So, from this Minnesotan, some advice. Don’t let the summer pass you by. Don’t let time be swallowed up with so many things to do. Make a summer shift in your schedule. Slow down and use the precious gift of time to be renewed with God and those you love.

Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people
who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a
sport. But this is being destroyed, in large part, by the elimination of the Sabbath rest day. More and more people
work on Sundays as a consequence of the competitiveness imposed by a consumer society. ~ Pope Francis

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Dale