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.

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.

The Omaha Padres played Sunday

A collection of priests from the Omaha Archdiocese gathered Sunday for the I-80 Collar Series at Werner Park as they  hosted the priests from the Lincoln diocese.

Fr. Pietramale brought plenty of holy water.

 All the priests signed posters...

 ... and took in the atmosphere of

 playing before 8,000 fans.

 But before they even took the

 field, they met and prayed.

 Then it was time for the national anthem ...

 and player introductions ...

 ... before the game got underway.

Fr. Brancich was the first priest from

 the Omaha team to get a hit (and score).

Fr. Vogel would soon be on base as well.

Above Fr Mario Rapose tagged third for 

one out and looks to first for a double play.

There were some hi-jinks on the field.

The Omaha team kept the trainers busy. Fr. Korth felt his hamstring pop during warm-ups. He was, we think, the only Omaha priest to play baseball in college. He was unable to take the field (though he did manage to bat with a pinch-runner.) On the right, Fr. Vogel got some cuts bandaged.

Captain-Father Voithofer called his shot.

 Fr. Ben Boyd stays on second base.

 Fr. Mark Beran got his workout on the field.

We don't recall exactly what the final score was or who won. We do know the last batter for the home team ended up being Fr. Hoesing (stepping up the the plate above) and the last play was him sliding for an inside the park home run.

It was a great and fun event!