Sr. Karen and Camp De Sales friend Tyler
The long awaited and now completed month of June remains a dynamic presence in my mind and heart. Beginning with our 400th anniversary celebration on June 6, the days “in review” point to a richness and fullness of life lived in faith community for God’s service and the service of God’s people.
Like the 400 “mini loaves” that Sr. Joanna and I baked for our 400th anniversary Mass which coincided with the feast of Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ) and then asked our guests to share as the Gospel story of the five loaves instructed, there is always “enough and more” when we let Jesus lead.
And speaking of “leading,” I joined three of our neighborhood teens at our Salesian Leadership Camp in Michigan where 52 Visitation and Salesian students from around the country met at Camp De Sales for a week long experience in faith, leadership training, and community. Talk about HOPE for our Church and for our world! We all left “fired up” to spread the spirit of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal AND to stay in touch as best we could.
Sometimes it’s good to be led! That’s how I felt as I rounded off a visit to St. Louis with a family float trip on one of the Ozark streams. As we canoed, swam, visited and nibbled away at too many snacks available in the canoe on that sweltering June day, “reconnecting” time with my family refreshed me for the days ahead. Spending time with those we love has that renewing capacity!
The most accessible “renewal” time is the daily opportunity we have to communicate with God.
I end this blog with this encouragement from St. Jane, the first leader of the Visitation Order:
Heart to Heart Prayer
When you pray, I suggest you follow your own way.
Speak to the Lord sincerely, lovingly, confidently, as your heart indicates.
Sometimes, come into God’s presence and say nothing at all
—just be in God’s presence as a child with his parent.
When you pray, keep yourself in God’s presence.
Look at God, converse with God, talk to God
heart to heart.
May these summer days be renewing for you!
2 Comments
Elizabeth · June 30, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Sr K, welcome home! I love this joyous reflection. The picture speaks volumes. Thank you for the gentle reminder that life is easier when we let God take the lead…LOVE
Visitation Graduates of Mendota Heights Reflect | Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis · July 2, 2010 at 8:37 am
[…] Sister Karen returns from Salesian Leadership Camp, and Sister Katherine works with the neighbors on Salesian leadership, the Visitation Class of 2010 […]