Lake Hope Vacation

I had a great time with the family on vacation this weekend.  I just wanted to post a few of my favorite pictures from the trip.  Here are Cecilia and Raiden at the beach:

 And Lucy, Nathan, Nora, Dad, Natasha and Theresa having fun at the Cabin sites:

Uncle Matt taught all the kids to be fire-bugs, but you can't make s'mores without a fire, can you?

The tent was set up for Matt, but the kids like to play in it also:

And the train ride was a hit with almost everyone:

This is my favorite picture:

Nora was fascinated by the Chickens at the historic village:

You can't have camping without cooking out:

or without hiking:

Two priests and a seminarian walk into Bob Evans . . .

Sounds like the start of a good Catholic joke, but these were some of my companions for breakfast this morning.  Today was Mission Sunday at our parish, so we had a visiting Redemptorist Priest who was collecting donations to build a church for his parish in Russia.  90% of all churches in Russia were destroyed by the communists, so they are still in the process of rebuilding - both the buildings and spiritually.

Our own pastor regularly joins us for breakfast on Sunday mornings, but we were not sure that he would be able to this week as he is headed out of town today for a Police Chaplains' conference in Texas.  However, his flight is not until 12:30, so he was at breakfast as was our resident Seminarian-for-the-summer, Thomas.  Our parish has been blessed to host a seminarian most summers, which is really nice because you get to know them a little better.  When I pray for seminarians, I am thinking of certain faces, voices and personalities and not just a lot of faceless men.

Of course, we also had our regular Breakfast ladies - and Stephen & Natasha - at Bob's this morning as well.  I really miss it when I can't have my Sunday breakfast with my breakfast ladies.  But it is really fun to add a couple extra people every now and again.

Luminous Mysteries for America

This took longer than I anticipated, but, just in time for Independence Day, here are some meditations to pray for our country using the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary:

1)  The Baptism of the Lord:   It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.  On coming out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.  Mk 1:9-10

It happened "in those days" that at the baptism of Christ, heaven and earth were joined with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Son. God's presence was felt among His people.  We pray that in our present day, God's presence will be made manifest in our country through the Holy Spirit acting once again through His people.

2)  The Wedding at Cana:  Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water."  So they filed them to the brim.  Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter."  So they took it.  Jn 2:7-8

This is the first sign that Jesus performed in His earthly ministry, and He did not do it all on His own, but He worked through the servants, asking them to "fill", "draw" and "take."  We pray that as Americans, when we ask God to bless our country, that we be willing to work with Him to bring about that blessing.  We must fill ourselves with knowledge and love of Christ, draw upon the gifts of the Spirit and take the Good News out to be tasted by all those we meet.

3) The Proclamation of the Kingdom:  "You are the light of the world.  A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.  Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."  Mt 5:14-16

We pray that America, in its position as a world power, may not lose its moral authority.  May we be the city set on a hill and a light unto the nations by continuing to protect human rights and dignity, both at home and throughout the world.

4) The Transfiguration:  And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.  Mt 17:2-3

We pray that the light of Christ will shine upon our country and illuminate through the darkness of sin that surrounds us.  May we all recognize Him as the Son of God and listen to Him, finding in Him the fulfillment of all our efforts and desires.

5)  The Institution of the Eucharist:  The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."  1 Cor 11:23b-24

It is no mere coincidence that Jesus, in giving Himself to us, chose to do it in the context of a meal.  Feeding and being fed are some of the most basic ways that we connect with each other as human beings.  we pray for all those who participate in feeding others including farmers, ranchers, fishermen, grocers, cooks and servers; and for all who are still needing to be fed -- emotionally and spiritually as well as physically.