Father Forgive Them

A priest introduced me to a powerful prayer.

He started out by saying "I think this is a powerful prayer," then he corrected himself. "I know this is a powerful prayer."

And it's powerful, he said, precisely because Jesus prayed it: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

This prayer from the cross is obviously one to use when we are trying to forgive others. But it has other uses, too, the priest explained. He said to use it whenever we might be "hitting a wall" with someone: an obstinate teen, perhaps, or someone who has gone down a wrong path, who is unwilling to reason or change, when we have run out of most options, when we otherwise might be tempted to give up on a person.

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

It's taken me a few months to take that prayer advice to heart. But now I'm seeing it as a powerful prayer for all types of situations, in fact most situations: for peace, for world and church leaders, for respect for the most vulnerable, for those who have left the Church, for sinners dear to us and for those we do not know, for the dying ...

Jesus's prayer, I think, could be prayed for almost anyone or anything.

The priest became an advocate of this prayer after hearing someone else urge its use. Now I pass it along to you, from Jesus's heart, for whatever weighs on your heart this Advent.

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

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.

Praying with Ciara

Last month, my family's two dogs were sprinkled with holy water and blessed at a pet blessing ceremony at St. Columbkille.

This month, one of those dogs is praying.

And she appears to have a special devotion to our Blessed Mother.

Let me explain how this development has come about:

Our family has a custom of praying a Hail Mary before the kids' sports games. We pray for safety and sportsmanship for all involved, for a good game for the team and in particular for our child or any teammate who would benefit from a good performance, for the souls of everyone at the game, and for a victory, if it be God's will. After the "Hail Mary" we end with a traditional team prayer for Catholics: "Our Lady, Queen of Victory, pray for us!"

In our family, one person shouts the first part, the address to Mary. And the others shout back even louder "pray for us!"

Well with all the yelling, our dog Ciara gets a little excited. And a while back she began barking with everyone during the "pray for us!" response. At first the perfectly timed barking seemed like a fluke, and we just chuckled at it. But now she appears to have become conditioned to that response, barking the prayer more frequently with us.

Now she barks with other, similar prayers. I often ask my kids to pray a "Hail Mary" with me before I go to work, for a peaceful night. And we end with "Our Lady, Queeen of Peace, pray for us." No yelling involved.

Just earlier this week when my son Peter and I prayed, invoking the Queen of Peace calmly, Ciara chimed in on cue. A couple days later I tested her alone, with dog treat in hand, shouting "Our Lady, Queen of Victory ..." And "Roh, roh, roh, roh, roh!" was her response. (She prays kind of like Scooby Doo.)

A little background on this dog should be noted:

One night a few years ago, missing a beloved dog that had died, I prayed for another dog, not completely sure if that was a wise prayer. The very next day, at a family gathering, my niece brought three mixed-breed puppies, two in need of a good home. And of course, my children begged for one.
Normally I might have objected, knowing the messes puppies make. But it appeared we were getting a gift from God, so how could I refuse? They had the choice of a dark female puppy or her lighter-colored brother. They chose the girl.

Once we got home we had the task of naming the dog, and each child had certain qualities they wanted in the name. One asked for a current, up-to-date name. Another wanted the literal meaning of the name to reflect something about the dog. Another preferred a saint's name. So we started searching baby names, reading aloud several suggestions. Each was rejected until we came upon Ciara, pronounced "keera."

The name is currently popular; and in its original Irish Gaelic, Ciara means "dark-haired." But we really knew we had the right name when we learned that Ciara is a feminine form of Ciaran, the name of an Irish saint who befriended St. Columbkille.

So perhaps our dog was destined to become saintly and pray. Certainly like all creatures, she was designed to give glory and praise to the Creator.

Now we just need to train her to evangelize.

Then she can teach our younger dog, Laika, to pray.

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.

God's Gift to Me

Early, early one morning on a beautiful late-summer day, God presented me with a small token of His love.

I was driving home from work, in the dark, on a mostly empty Interstate, my mind preoccupied with thoughts I really didn't need to be concerned about. At one point in the drive, I actually thought that I should spend less time thinking about such things and more time praying. But I went back to those thoughts, my tired mind a little obsessed with them.

Then the Interstate took a turn to the right. And directly in front of me was a giant yellow moon on the horizon, so big and bold it almost startled me. And I laughed.

Thank You, God, I said, for I knew it was His gift for me. Somewhere I learned to embrace everything I encounter as a personal gift from God, as though it were for me alone.

Every fragrant flower, every gorgeous sunset, every warm, gentle breeze God sends to me personally, as if I were the only person on the earth. He does this for all of us. Just as He died for each of us, and for all of us.

He loves us that much.

So the gift of the giant yellow moon, hovering just over the horizon, was His surprise for me. It drew me out of my preoccupation and back to Him -- where my mind and heart belonged.

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.

Breaking the Newspaper Rules

Newspaper writing follows lots of rules.

Some are basic: Write concisely, clearly. Avoid jargon. Try to use active verbs instead of passive ones.

Other rules are more minute: Spell out whole numbers up to and including nine, use numerals for 10 and above. The word follow-up is hyphenated when used as a noun or adjective, but as a verb, there is no hyphen and two separate words.

One newspaper-writing rule that has struck me lately, one that I remember from journalism classes in college, is to avoid exclamation points. It's easy to see how overuse of exclamation points can go wrong. Most of us have seen posts on social media with an overkill of exclamation points and capital letters.

But sometimes exclamation points are necessary to convey the excitement and urgency a person speaks with. When used sparingly and judiciously, exclamation points make a statement stand out and demand our attention.

I especially like to see exclamation points in religious writing.

I thought about this earlier this month when we had these words of Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel at Sunday Mass: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!"

Our Lord certainly knows how to use exclamation points. He speaks of His fire with fire. We should do the same.

One commentator on this Gospel passage from St. Luke, Msgr. Charles Pope of the Archdiocese of Washington, wrote with a similar zeal. Here's some of what Msgr. Pope had to say about St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews, part of the readings from the same Sunday:

Live The Priority of faith -- The text says, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.

We are given the example of a runner in a race. What does a runner do? He runs the race! Runners do not stop to watch television; they do not stop to make small talk; they do not take stupid detours or go in the opposite direction. They do one thing: they run the race. So, too, with our faith: it has priority. Nothing should be allowed to hinder us.

We all need that sharp focus and zeal for God. We need His fire. We need to speak, write and live a life punctuated by more exclamation points!

"With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts," the prophet Elijah said.

Newspaper writing also discourages redundancy. But for God, some rules need to be broken.

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.

Making a Fresh Spiritual Start

A new school year is a time to start fresh, not only in our scholarly endeavors but also in our spiritual lives.

We could look at this new beginning as a time to develop routines that we've been meaning to start, such as praying the rosary together as a family after dinner or praying the Divine Mercy chaplet on the ride home from school.

We could begin devotions that specifically span nine months, the length of a school year, like the First Friday devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which St.Columbkille students participated in last year, led by Father Vogel. Information on this devotion can be found at a number of Catholic websites. Another nine-month prayer is the spiritual adoption of a baby, as promoted by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

Below are two prayers of blessing for the start of the school year from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' "Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers."


Prayers to Begin a School Year
God of wisdom and might,
we praise You for the wonder of our being,
for mind, body and spirit.
Be with our children as they begin
a new school year.
Bless them and their teachers and staff.
Give the strength and grace as their bodies grow;
wisdom and knowledge to their minds
as they search for understanding;
and peace and zeal to their hearts.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer for Students
Lord our God,
in Your wisdom and love
You surround us with the mysteries of the universe.
Send Your Spirit upon these students
and fill them with Your wisdom and blessings.
Grant that they may devote themselves to their studies
and draw ever closer to You,
the source of all knowledge.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let's take advantage of this fresh start, beginning and maintaining the school year with prayer!

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.

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.

Our Soundtrack

Call me crazy, but I love road trips.

Last week about half our family drove 2½ hours to Elgin, Nebraska, to meet up with friends I'd met while in college and to visit our former associate pastor, Father Vogel, in his new hometown.

Road trips. When else can you spend hours with the people you love, together in the close confines of a car, sharing in-depth conversations, laughs, a few squabbles and even some odd smells?

And music. What would a long car trip be without a soundtrack?

Finding songs we all enjoy can be tough for our family because of our range in age and tastes. But usually we find something. Throughout a trip, we might find ourselves returning to certain songs, artists or types of music. And a theme develops.

On one vacation, we listened more than once to a CD of Irish pub songs. The kids picked up the lyrics quickly, and we'd all sing along. I had to caution them not to sing the songs at school or other places where the words might be deemed inappropriate. Not everyone appreciates a child singing: "And it's all for me grog, me jolly, jolly grog. All for me beer and tobacco."

On our most recent trip, we developed a Dean Martin theme. It's hard to resist "That's Amore" mixing young love with Italian food. Or the sweet, nostalgic, lifetime love described in "Memories Are Made of This."

By the last leg of the drive home, we'd listened to ol' Dino for a fifth, sixth, maybe seventh time over two days. I thought I'd be tired of the music, but I wasn't. It was the backdrop for the new happy memories we made over two days: eating spaghetti around a dinner table at our hosts' home while Father Vogel talked about the mischief he got into in college (you'll have to ask him about that for yourselves); standing under a wind turbine as the blades above whizzed around at 200 mph; watching a movie under the stars while enjoying a cool breeze; listening to an astute college student explain prehistoric life as she patiently, tediously scraped away limestone to uncover ancient horse bones; finding treasures for a bargain at a thrift store; trying our hand at organ-playing, at the invitation of a kind, retired choir director who welcomed us to explore her church one afternoon.

It was a simple trip, with simple pleasures. But they formed "sweet, sweet memories," like the ones Dean Martin sang of:

"See how the flavor stays. These are the dreams you will savor."

Thank you, Lord, for memories made of this.


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.

O Good Shepherd, Pray for Brian

You may have heard the tragic news about Brian Bergkamp, a Diocese of Wichita seminarian presumed dead after he was swept away in turbulent water while trying to help a fellow kayaker.

My son Daniel, who knew Bergkamp when they both were studying at Conception Seminary College, asked our family to pray for his former classmate when news spread that he was missing.

Another son David, 8, took the prayer request to heart.

He told me later that he asked Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to help find the seminarian, because the Good Shepherd seeks out the lost.

That was a good prayer, I told David. When we pray it's good to remind God of Who He is, what He has said and what He can do.

Of course, our all-knowing God needs no reminders. But we do. We ask with more confidence, boldness and faith when we remember God's actions and promises and recall that He wants to help us. (Here's where we could remind our Lord that He promised: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.")

We offer God praise when we recall His mighty deeds in our requests. But we must also remember that our will might not be His will.

In adopting this spirit of prayer, of reminding God, we could cover a number of petitions:

Heavenly Father, Who freed the Israelites from slavery, free us from the slavery of sin.

Jesus, You wept. Console me in my grief.

Lord, You said: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." I turn to You now, Jesus. Help me.

"Blessed Mother, who interceded for the bride and groom at Cana, bring our needs to your Son. And we will "do whatever He tells" us.

We could go on thinking up examples of how we could praise our Lord and remind ourselves of His promises and greatness. But for now, let's offer some prayers for Brian Bergkamp and his family -- perhaps calling upon the merciful Good Shepherd.

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.

We are like Fireflies

A lightning bug -- or firefly, if you choose -- is one of God's most amazing creatures, able to generate light.

Gazing across a field at dusk recently at Walnut Creek, I was amazed to see hundreds of fireflies flickering their yellow lights in and above the tall, wispy grass. Some of the bugs seemed to blink so randomly. While others flickered with precision, as if they were transmitting Morse Code in patterned bursts of light.

As the sky darkened, the insects stood out even more, in sharper in contrast to the darkness. I'd never seen so many lightning bugs at one time and was in awe of all the tiny specks of light before me in the field.

Then it occurred to me that we are like the fireflies.

God gives each of us a light to shine. Alone, each of is amazing enough as we flicker our little light. But when hundreds or thousands of us shine together, we are truly spectacular. And when darkness descends around us, we shine even brighter, drawing even more attention to our light, the Light of the World.

This comparison is relevant as Catholics in the United States mark another Fortnight for Freedom, from June 21st -- the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More -- to July 4th, Independence Day. The nation's bishops organized the first Fortnight in 2012 to battle threats against religious freedom, which only have increased since then. Our shepherds challenge us to pray, fast and speak out on what Pope Benedict XVI called the "most cherished of American freedoms."

This year in particular, we are called to shine. The theme is "Fortnight for Freedom 2016: Witnesses to Freedom." These are  days to bear witness, to live our faith in Christ with more passion and vigilance than ever. Our darkened world needs His light.

The following is a prayer from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Almighty God, Father of all nations,
For freedom You have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1).
We praise and bless You for the gift of religious liberty,
the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good.
Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties;
By Your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness,
and in the name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with Whom You live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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.

Memorizing Scripture

In grade school we all had to memorize things: multiplication tables, state capitals, the world's oceans and continents.

And some of us had to memorize poetry. (I'm not sure if students still do that.)

At the time I understood that memorizing certain facts was important. But poetry?

As it turns out, the poetry has had a lasting effect on me. Even after several decades, a line or two occasionally comes back: "Blessings on thee, little man, Barefoot boy, with cheeks of tan!" or "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,  But I have promises to keep,  And miles to go before I sleep,  And miles to go before I sleep."

I better appreciate the poems now, especially when I hear someone else recite them. The writing is musical, with a cadence and flow, beautiful, sometimes sweet, sometimes dark and mysterious.

So perhaps memorizing poems wasn't such a bad idea. In fact, I'd like to do more memorizing. But now I'd like to try Scripture.

The Bible contains history, literature and truth. But more importantly, God's Word is alive and active. "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart."

Words in any context can be powerful. But they are nothing compared with God's Word, in Whom the world was created and redeemed.

I need that power in my life. Words linger and become our prayer. And sometimes they become available when we least expect them.

A couple years ago, I tried to get my kids to memorize Scripture by offering them rewards. It was a short project because  (as usual) I got distracted. But I remember a drive in which a 6-year-old and I repeated a line over and over, breaking it down into pieces: "I can do all things. in Him. Who strengthens me."

I don't know if the verse stayed with that child, but it definitely stayed with me. My brain still breaks it into pieces, slowly repeating it. "I can do all things ... in Him ... Who strengthens me." And it has become my prayer.

I hope to bring back memorizing Scripture with family. Memorization is like glue. It makes words -- in this case, God's Word -- stick in our minds and hearts, attaching so firmly that they become part of us.

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.

Summer Plans??

Thanks to St. Columbkille student Mara Trautman for some summer inspiration. Her mother, Cheri, shared Mara's list on social media.

Seeing Mara's ideas made me determined to make a list of my own. Maybe having a list that I could check off would help me accomplish some of my goals. I always have lots of plans for what to do over the summer, but I never seem to find the time. And summer speeds by faster each year.

So here's my list:

1. Create a family to-do list, so we can do some things that everyone will enjoy.
2. Worship at Mass every day possible, and bring some family members with me.
3. Go to Elgin and Raeville, Nebraska, to visit some old friends, Father Vogel and the beautiful churches where he will minister. (St. Bonaventure in Raeville, known as the "Pearl of the Plains," is said to be a must-see.)
4. Make our family's annual trek to Milwaukee but do it with extra purpose, to cement years of memories. (The relatives who host us will be moving. Most likely we'll be back to Milwaukee again, but we'll miss the rituals of staying in their house: morning walks or jogs along the creek in their neighborhood; collecting rocks, fossils and sea glass along the creek and at Lake Michigan; Mass at our home-away-from-home parish; late-night talks on the backyard patio; and just the feeling of being so at home while we are away.)
5. Read with our youngest child, David, every day. (He's entering third grade, and we won't read together much longer.)
6. Help elderly family and friends.
7. Watch fireworks.
8. Take long walks with our dogs.
9. Take long naps with our dogs.
10. Have "snuggle parties," where everyone squeezes onto a bed for a movie and snacks.
11. Steal from Mara's ideas by taking in kite-flying, a national park, Josyln, the zoo, the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge, a farmer's market, high tea at the lavender farm, swimming and a splash park. (Mara and I would have fun together.) I might also add the Wildlife Safari Park and some state parks.
12. Boost my mental health through baby therapy, pet therapy, photography and writing.
13. Smell flowers.
14. Sit outside, watch a storm and hopefully find a rainbow, too.
15. Snap a photo of a firefly with its light on.
16. Eat tons of watermelon, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, sweetcorn, tomatoes and other seasonal goodies. And occasionally enjoy an ice cream treat, too.
17. Purge our house of all the stuff we don't need.
18. Earn some spending money. Work hard, play hard.
19. Spend less time in front of screens and more time outside and with family and friends.

That's an ambitious to-do list for me, so I better get started. What are your plans this summer?

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.

Looking Forward with Hope at Graduation

It's graduation time.

As we celebrate with our graduates and look forward with hope, let us pray:

A Blessing for Graduates
Eternal God,
in You we live,
and move,
and have our being.
In Your will
we find our purpose,
and in Your wisdom
we find our joy.

Bless these graduates
who have completed
a course of study
and now begin
a new part of their lives.

Let them not be troubled
about the past nor
anxious about the future,
but let them be concerned about the moment they must now live.

Strengthen their faith and ease their fears
that they may courageously follow your Spirit
and live fully the life You give them.

When doubt and confusion about their purpose surround them,
light their way and give them peace in Your plan for them.
Let them use the gifts they have received in their studies
that they may become a source of inspiration
and blessing for the world.

And when each day is ended, give them delight in knowing
that the good work You have begun in them
shall come to completion in You.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
-- from the Diocese of San Jose

A Graduation Prayer
Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us.
So be swift to love and make haste to act with kindness and compassion and the blessing of God Almighty.
Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with us this day and forever more. Amen.
-- Prayers for Special Help

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.

Thank You Teachers

Who was your favorite teacher?

My daughter Faustina and I recently talked about our favorite teachers as we rode home from her high school. She had to write about hers as part of a theology assignment. The class had been discussing Jesus as a teacher.

Her favorite teacher was patient, a good listener, someone who noticed students who were struggling. He taught her how to pray and that prayer matters. He taught that it's okay to be yourself, even if the rest of the world sees you as a dork.

By sharing his stories from high school, the instructor helped my daughter learn that we sometimes have to push ourselves out of our comfort zones. He applied the subjects he taught to everyday life, especially religion lessons, she said.

Good teachers are important. They change lives. They move us to consider possibilities we had never considered. They help us discover our capabilities and push us to be our best.

They are a regular, constant part of our lives for at least a semester. In our younger years, they wipe noses, tie shoes, pull teeth, bind wounds, hold hands and dry tears. In older grades they continue to celebrate with us, mourn with us, cheer for us, clean up after us and discipline us. They dedicate a huge portion of their lives to us. And even out of the classroom, they model good behavior and good lives.

Teacher appreciation week ends today at St. Columbkille School. But our appreciation for our teachers never ends.

Thank you, teachers, for all that you do.


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.

First Communion Novena

My son David, a second-grader, has been counting down the days to his First Holy Communion.

Now we are getting close. His big day will be April 23, when he will receive Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament at the 6:30 p.m. Mass. Other second-graders will have the honor at other weekend Masses.

The timing of this celebration seems perfect:  in the freshness and renewal of spring and Easter and when farmers and gardeners are preparing the ground for planting.

In the same spirit as a gardener, the children -- with the help of their parents and teachers -- have been preparing. Their young souls are to become fertile ground where Jesus can grow and flourish.

And during these final days, a special First Communion Novena, also known as "A Garden Fit for a King," can help. It can be found here.

During the novena, children symbolically plant flowers in their hearts, an idea similar to a spiritual bouquet.

On Day 1, they plant roses, focusing on acts of kindness toward others. On Day 2, they plant lilacs, trying to be patient and gentle when they might otherwise get angry. Day 3 is for forget-me-nots, when children make a special visit to Jesus in an Adoration Chapel or at Church.

The novena continues with prayers and a new flower, with a corresponding virtue or emphasis, for each of the nine days. The simple prayers reflect on the life of Jesus as He was growing up and invite children to imitate Him.

At the end, the garden is complete and ready to present to Jesus for First Communion.

Please take a look at this age-appropriate novena, especially if you know of a special second-grader who might benefit. For years I have struggled at finding concrete ways to get my children ready for First Communion and surely have fallen short. I think this novena is a step in the right direction, especially as excitement for the big day builds and we want to stay focused Jesus, rather than the clothes and gifts and other non-essentials.

May God Himself prepare our children. And may He find welcome in the gardens of their  hearts.

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.

Rejoice!

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it."

That line from Psalm 118 is so much a part of Easter. We hear, pray and sing those words again and again.

They remind me of a former St. Columbkille pastor, Father Steven Stillmunks, now pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Church. He began every Mass thanking God for the "beautiful day." Every day was beautiful to him, even if a storm was raging outside.

 Father Stillmunks was wise, knowing each day should be treasured as a gift from God.

I gained a new appreciation for our gift of days when I turned 40. I would have dead by then, a doctor told me, if I hadn't had a life-saving operation at age 21.

I was born with a hole in my heart, but it wasn't discovered until I was in college, when a different doctor detected a heart murmur. I went in for tests over spring break and had surgery scheduled that summer to repair the half-dollar-size hole.

After the surgery, I asked the surgeon: What would have happened if I never had the surgery? He said I would have started having health problems by age 30 or when I started having kids. And I would be dead by age 40, he said.

I just celebrated a birthday (13 years past my 40th) during the Easter Octave. And I might have been tempted to be sad about growing older. But Psalm 118 reminds me that I can't take any day for granted. Each day is His gift, a new opportunity -- not to be squandered, but to be celebrated and lived to the fullest.

So here I am, rejoicing at being another year older, and the mother of nine and grandmother of one.

I know I am blessed with the gift of each passing day. Today -- and every day -- is just another reason to sing.



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.

Irish Blessings

Blessings are an Irish specialty.

Here's a few for St. Patrick's Day and every day, borrowed from the Internet:

Old favorites

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

May God be with you and bless you,
May you see your children's children,
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

Short and sweet

May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse
Than the happiest day of your past.

Comforting

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

For those who bless you

May the dreams you hold dearest
Be those which come true
And the kindness you spread
Keep returning to you.

Funny

May you live to be a hundred years,
With one extra year to repent!

May the Lord keep you in His hand
And never close His fist too tight.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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.

Time to Turn to St. Joseph

We are 31 days into Lent, 16 days away from Easter, two days away from our parish mission, six days away from St. Patrick's Day.

Did I miss anything?

Oh yeah, we are nine days away from the Feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It's the perfect time to begin a novena to the saint entrusted by God to care for and protect Jesus and Mary. Among the saints, Joseph ranks second only to Mary.

We turn to St. Joseph as patron of families, workers, unborn children, expectant parents, migrants and refugees, a peaceful death and the universal Church, according to the book, "St. Joseph -- Help for Life's Emergencies."

"His intercession is invoked for accountants, carpenters, engineers and craftsmen. He is invoked by persons beset by doubts or hesitations, those who have a profound interior life, and travelers."

 In other words, we could all benefit from his powerful intercession.

You could pray for the Church and its leaders, for your job or a lack of one, to sell a house or find a home, for your spouse (even an unfaithful one) for your father, for your children, for the dying, for your death, in financial stress or in dark times, for devotion to Mary, for closeness to Jesus.

It seems that in life and in eternity, St. Joseph is hardworking, faithful and diligent.

So let us turn to him in our needs, trusting that God will be attentive to his prayers. Any prayer to St. Joseph would suffice for a novena, which is simply prayers prayed for nine consecutive days. You could use this litany, borrowed from the St. Joseph book, that honors the saint and covers our needs under his various titles:

Litany of Saint Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Renowned offspring of David, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Diligent protector of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most strong, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of artisans, pray for us.
Glory of home life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Solace of the wretched, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
    spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
    graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
    have mercy on us.

V. He made him the lord of his household,
R. And ruler of all his possessions.

    Let us pray:
    O God, in Your unspeakable providence, You were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother, grant, we beseech You, that we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, whom we venerate as our protector on earth; You Who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

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.

Embracing the Cross

Even as a lifelong Catholic, I've had trouble grasping the concept of "offering up" my pains and sorrows.

It's hard to offer up sufferings, even annoyances, when you're in the throes of them. Pain and irritability can be overwhelming and consuming, and it can be difficult to reason in such a state. During those times, I have to just skip logic and go straight to faith, trusting that God is in control and somehow can use my pain, as much as I dislike it, to help others.

For me, the Catholic understanding of suffering -- and the offering of my personal pains --  is best established ahead of time, when I'm not suffering. By praying a morning offering, I've already given God whatever I will face that day. And during Lent particularly, praying the Stations of the Cross has helped me understand why Jesus had to suffer -- and why we have to.

The late Caryll Houselander, a Catholic artist and writer, teaches us in her version of the Stations, "The Way of the Cross," that when Jesus receives His cross, we, too, are invited to accept it.

"For Christ receives our cross that we may receive His.

"Receiving this cross, the cross of the whole world made His, we receive Him. He gives us His hands to take hold of, His power to make it a redeeming thing, a blessed thing, His life to cause it to flower, His heart to enable us to rejoice in accepting our own and one another's burdens."

Houselander prays: "Let me realize that because You have made my suffering Yours and given it the power of Your love, it can reach everyone, everywhere -- those in my own home, those who seem to be out of my reach -- it can reach them all with Your healing and Your love.

"Let me always remember that those sufferings known only to myself, which seem to be without purpose and without meaning, are part of Your plan to redeem the world."

Teach us, O Lord, to embrace You and Your cross.

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.

Blessings of a Catholic School

"...whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant."

Those Gospel words were proclaimed at a Mass Wednesday for the 100th anniversary of St. Columbkille Catholic School. And they couldn't be more fitting for the occasion.

Archbishop George J. Lucas, in his homily, said service is what has set St. Columbkille apart.

"St. Columbkille School has a great reputation," he said. "And it's not by accident. It's because ... people are trying really hard to not just think of themselves, but to think of others."

Service, Archbishop Lucas said, is one of the greatest blessings of a going to a Catholic school -- and our source of true freedom. He said that as he grew older he grew to appreciate his own Catholic education, particularly because his school taught him to serve. "I learned how to be free to live for somebody else besides myself."

We "become our best selves," he said, and experience that freedom when we use our gifts from God to help others.

Father Vogel, in his homily at the 5:30 p.m. Mass later that day, shared the archbishop's message, again tying it to the Gospel reading. In the passage, the mother of the apostles James and John asked Jesus for a privileged place for her sons in Christ's Kingdom, one sitting at His left and the other at His right. Our Lord then summoned all the apostles, who had become indignant at the two brothers, to tell them what it takes to have a privileged place in His Kingdom.

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Let's pray for St. Columbkille School, joining in the archbishop's prayer of blessing over the congregation at the all-school Mass:

"Purify Your faithful in body, mind and spirit, O Lord we pray, so that growing as disciples of Christ they may seek to serve rather than to be served. Through Christ our Lord."

Amen.

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.

Our Lenten Journey

The journey of Lent always seems long and arduous from the beginning vantage point.

But after many years of making this trip, I've learned that in reality the days go by quickly. And with Jesus as our traveling companion, our burden is easy and light. So may we go forth into Lent filled with longing and hope, inspired along the way by Jesus, Who is the Way, and others who became experienced guides on the Lenten pilgrimage, our popes and saints.

Here is some of their wisdom to share:

"Whoever wishes to be My follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in My steps." -Luke 9:23

"Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy." -- Pope Francis

"Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life..." -- Pope Benedict XVI

"Look at His adorable face.
Look at His glazed and sunken eyes.
Look at His wounds.
Look Jesus in the Face.
There, you will see how He loves us."
~ St. Therese of Lisieux

So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. -- St. Peter Chrysologus


Have a blessed trip!

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.