Refreshed, Renewed and Full of Zeal

My heart and home are a little emptier this week.

Our three youngest children have been gone since last weekend.

Two went to the archdiocese's Camp Virtus et Veritas, a summer camp for boys entering sixth through ninth grade, about two hours west near McCool Junction, Nebraska.
And their younger brother, David, has been living it up at a lakeside home of a family friend, near Fremont. The friend graciously extended an invitation to David after he expressed his sadness about being left behind while his brothers Paul and Pete went off for to a week of camp fun.

So here I am typing in complete silence at home (while teenage girls sleep in late and their older brother is at class at Creighton), enjoying the peace but thinking it's eerily quiet without the noise of a 13-, 11- and 8-(almost-9-)year-old. I'm thinking about them, but I'm pretty sure they're not thinking about me or missing home. I'm getting reports and seeing pictures from Camp V² of mud slides, archery, swimming and other outdoor fun. And from David's lake resort, tales of travels and water fun and a texted photo of him bobbing around in an inner tube.

I'm reminded that we all need getaways, especially the Camp V² type, which also incorporates Mass, Confession, Adoration, praying the Rosary, Bible study, spiritual talks and lessons on saints. I'm eagerly awaiting camp stories from Pete and Paul. Last year -- before Peter was old enough for the camp and Paul went alone -- Paul excitedly shared stories about the camp during the long ride home. He talked about friends, the mud slides, swimming, his sunburn, toads and a cool dog that wandered over from a neighboring farm. But he also talked about his faith, vocation stories from priests and seminarians, what he learned about the life of St. John Bosco and how cool it was that he got to go to Mass everyday!

Try as I might, I could never convey to my children that excitement about encountering God. How awesome is our God that He lowers Himself to us and awaits a deep, personal relationship with us, if only we give Him a chance!

We all need to be that passionate. We all need to be surrounded by like-minded Catholics, to learn to pray, to share the Bible and the examples of the saints, to hear about the miraculous ways our Lord works in each others' lives. For at least one week out of the year. Without cell phones and other distractions (which Camp Virtus et Veritas wisely has the boys leave at home).

We all need to let loose and have some all-out fun once in a while. And we all need time away from our regular routines to focus on the One Thing That Truly Matters. Then we can return to our lives refreshed, renewed and full of zeal.


Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Celebrating 100 Years with Archbishop Lucas

For the all school Mass today, on the 100th birthday of St. Columbkille Catholic School, Archbishop Lucas was the celebrant. Now only did Fr. Dave and Fr. Vogel concelebrate, but St. Columbkille graduate Fr. John Norman was there as well.

Archbishop Lucas said,“I had the blessing of going to a Catholic School myself. … I kind of took it for granted. I didn’t really realize the sacrifices my parents were making, I didn’t realize the sacrifices the teachers were making, it was all happening around me. … Now that I’m older, I’m getting closer to 100 myself, I’m more grateful all the time for that blessing Catholic education was in my life

“As I think back, … I try to think, what did I get from that? What did I really learn? There were a lot of things that were really good, here’s the one thing that sticks in my mind. I learned how to be free to live for somebody else besides myself. I learned how to be free to live for others.

“We can really be our best selves, we can really use our gifts, if we think about about brothers and sisters, our neighbors and see how we might best use our gifts to serve them.

“I promise to pray for you that you will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in abundance, to be able to learn and study and work together. I hope that you will pray for me too.”

After he processed out of the church, Archbishop Lucas said, "In the old days, on a day like this, the Bishop would call off school for the rest of the day. But with all the working families, I'd get crucified if I did that today."

Thank you archbishop Lucas!

It was a Fiesta

This afternoon was the Ceili Buy-in event of the Fiesta with Fr Dave.

Almost right away Fr Dave was a target for the ring toss game.

Fr Dave also gave rides in his thing.

Fr Roza is now the director of vocations for the archdiocese, but his first assignment was at St. Columbkille. Yesterday he was reunited with the first child he baptized.

Some of our FOCUS missionaries were able to visit after the 5:00 Mass. Fr. Norman also stopped by after saying the 5:00 Mass at his parish.

 How could you not have a pinata at a Fiesta?

There was fun all around.

Fr. Norman on Catholic News Service

In this video about Fr. John Norman and the priesthood, Pope Francis has a cameo at about seconds 14-17 in this Catholic News Service story.



Oops ... we mixed that up.

Fr. Norman has a cameo in this video of Pope Francis talking about the priesthood.

It's still cool.

Fr Norman Visits

Former St Columbkille Catholic School student Fr. John Norman stopped by to visit today.

Mrs. English showed her current students the First Grade photo of one of her former students.

On Monday, Fr. Norman returns to Rome for his final year of school. He showed Mrs. Loeffler's class where Rome is.

Prompted by Mrs. Loeffler's enthusiasm for her current students, Fr. Norman decided they needed some more marbles in their marble jar.

The students in 1B were overwhelmed with excitement when Fr Norman loaded up their jar as well. The students are typically allowed to add just one marble to the jar when they behave well. Then, when the jar is full there is a class party. With Fr Norman's help, the next marble party is coming quicker than Mrs. Loeffler or Mrs. English had anticipated.

Fr. Norman's classroom tour finished in 3A visiting his Third Grade teacher and blessing the students.

Fr. Norman: be sure to visit again!

Another Eagle

 Sunday night was the Court of Honor as

 William Pryor became an Eagle Scout.

 As William took the oath, every Eagle Scout took the oath with him.

 William has worked hard on this process for years.

 It was a blessing that Eagle Scout Fr. Norman

 was able to particapate in the ceremony.

Congratulations William!

The end of Summer Formation Classes

This morning was the last of the Summer Religious Formation. Students gathered each morning in the courtyard. One morning we prayed thinking of the statue of St. Columbkille.

Another day Fr. John Norman spoke with us.

We collected items for the Tri-City Pantry.

Music was part of our curriculum.

Deacon Capadano spoke with some of our classes

 about how God has called him to serve.

And we learned a lot in classes.

Today we finish and bring what we learned into the world.