The busyness of spring is all around: weddings, graduations,
May crowning, soccer, baseball, school field trips.
Something is going on every day.
At many destinations this week I've had the pleasure of
visiting with people from St. Columbkille Parish. And after almost every
encounter, I walk away feeling better, warmed by fellow parishioners -- not
because of sweeping, heroic gestures, but little everyday conversations, hugs
and smiles.
Here's how much of the week went:
Friday night was kindergarten soccer night. My son's team,
the Huskers (because of their red T-shirts), gave one of their players to the
opposing team because they were short a player. And of course, the
kindergarteners happily obliged.
The coach's wife made sure she stopped by to ask how I was
doing, one parent patted our family's dog while others relaxed and talked on
the sidelines.
On Saturday I watched kindergarteners and first-graders hug
and congratulate the teacher they knew as Miss Senger after she became Mrs.
Olson. The church courtyard, filled with well-wishers, was a sunny, happy
place.
In the pews at the noon Mass, my family was sandwiched in
between several rows full of other St. Columbkille School families, who warmly
greeted each other and wished the moms happy Mother's Day. It felt comfortable
sitting among them.
Monday was May Crowning for my daughter at Mercy -- and
several other Mercy students from St. Columbkille. The ceremony was beautiful
and emotional, and afterward a few St. Columbkille mothers laughed about the
tears they shed at the event.
Tuesday and Wednesday were baseball games at St. Columbkille
fields, where younger siblings ran and played while parents, bundled in
blankets on the bleachers, visited and occasionally shared a laugh with the
coaches and umpire.
Thursday began with the all-school Mass, hugs and greetings
from the regular Mass-goers and afterwards updates from friends -- which made
me slightly late for the fourth-grade fishing trip.
Dedicated parents, relatives and school staff made sure the
field trip went on after being canceled because of rain Monday. Families had to
dig out hats, gloves and winter coats because it was cold and windy at the
lake. But parents managed to laugh about it. One dad set up my son's fishing
line on his pole and showed him how to cast. The fish weren't biting much, but
the kids ate hot dogs, chips and watermelon and ran around. It was a good day.
Nothing really extraordinary happened this week. But maybe
that's why it was special. Day in and day out, I encounter good, kind people --
kids and adults -- from St. Columbkille.
Our family's busy schedule puts me in regular contact with
them. After 25 years at St. Columbkille, I have many old friends here. Yet
because our parish is large and ever-changing, I constantly meet new people.
Having nine children helps. I don't consider myself outgoing; typically other
people reach out to me, often just to say hello or for small talk.
This week made me stop and think: Are other parishes like
St. Columbkille? Do we have something special here?
What do you think?
"Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward
one another, compassionate, humble."
-- 1 Peter 3:8
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.
