Summer Newsletter June/July 2010

Happy Summer!  School has been out for a few weeks, the June Fair has come and gone, and I am sure that all of us are ready to settle into the slower pace that summertime allows.  It is a time to rest, relax and spend time with family and friends, to allow ourselves to just ‘be’.  In St. Mark’s gospel, Jesus even tells the apostles to “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mk 6:31)  Some of us have a hard time letting that happen, and we fill our summer days with camp, sports practice, traveling to places we’ve never been, or we use the quiet time to catch up on things we are always meaning to do, but never quite seem to accomplish.  Sometimes we find ourselves looking for something meaningful to do that will enliven and energize our minds, hearts, and spirits; something that will make a lasting impact on who we are and how we live.  We look so hard and become so restless that we can miss the obvious.  St. Augustine of Hippo states what we could be looking for, quite beautifully: “Oh God, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.”  Summer can be a time to renew and refresh our relationship with God, for it is in Him that we truly rest and find our home.

            The summer assignment for all of our PREP families is simply this: As a family, make time each day to settle your restless hearts and give them over to the One who loves us above all else.  Make time to pray as a family, whether it is at the dinner table or gathering at the foot of a child’s bed before the house is quiet for the night.  Practice the formal prayers that we all should know, and encourage your children to just find quiet time to sit and talk to God.  A prayer journal is an excellent summertime gift.  When you are able to go away on vacation, or simply take a day trip, point out the beauty of God’s Creation and talk about it; thank Him for its beauty and majesty.  Above all, come to Mass each weekend.  Celebrate the sacraments that fill us with grace and nourishment.  There isn’t a video game, TV show, or sporting event that gives us that.  Praying as a family not only sets the example of who we are as Catholics, it helps our children understand a better way of life.  If our faith becomes the root of all we do, we are giving our children the best gift of all. 

            I hope to see as many of you at Mass as I did at the June Fair this month.  I hope that when I see you again at the start of PREP, you are able to tell me that even though you took a break from school, you didn’t take a break from being a Child of God, but that you spent some time working on building your friendship with him!

                                                                                                                        Mrs. Romano

Walk along beside me, Jesus, as I begin the months of summer.
As I work, play, and enjoy family time and friendships,
May I hear Your voice within me, guiding me toward all that is right and good.
Give me faith in Your presence, knowing that you walk beside me in everything I do.

Gracious and loving Jesus, thank You for the gift of summer.
May the warmth of its sun and the beauty of its light remind me daily of your love for me.
Amen.