Bob Jensen

Take Mass With You On Your Next Vacation

As a child, summer vacations meant camping trips around the northwest. In planning the trips my parents would make sure that on Sunday, we would be near a Catholic Church for Mass. Sometimes they forgot to check if there was a summer schedule, and a few times we had to wait a bit for the next Mass to begin.

When traveling, the Church asks us to make a “reasonable effort” to be able to participate in Sunday Mass. If near a town, it would be reasonable to see if there is a Catholic Church and what their Mass schedule is.

Attending Mass while on vacation is an opportunity to experience both the universality of our faith as well as the uniqueness of each parish community. If there was no church nearby, it would probably not be reasonable to spend the entire day getting to a church. In that case, one could spend some time in prayer with the Sunday readings. It could be a wonderful experience for the family being the domestic Church. If it takes more than reasonable effort to get to church while traveling, one is dispensed from the obligation to participate in Mass.

Vacations are important. They allow us to get away from the ordinary and experience some of God’s creation as well as family and friends in new ways. Now that we are emerging from COVID, travel seems a little more reasonable. However, one would not take a vacation from Mass anymore than one would take a vacation from eating or breathing. When traveling with children, it gives parents a wonderful opportunity to teach how important Sunday Mass is, and when its not possible to get to Mass, how important family prayer is.

Let Us Sing Together

I recently read an article in the Washington Post entitled, “Singing is good for you. Singing with others may be even better.” The article cites studies that linked singing in choirs to reduced stress hormones and increased cytokines, proteins that can boost the body’s ability to fight serious illness. Studies have also found a connection between generally singing with lessened anxiety, stimulated memory, increased lung capacity, and an easing of postpartum depression.

It is not a surprise that singing is good for one since we believe we are made by God to sing. In their document on music in divine worship, the U.S. Bishops wrote, “God has bestowed upon his people the gift of song. God dwells within each human person, in the place where music takes is source. Indeed, God the giver of song is present whenever his people sing his praise.” (#1). Every Sunday we have the opportunity to sing together. It is good, both for our physical health and spiritual well-being. It also strengthens us as a community of faith, as we gather to worship our loving God.

Is the Holy Spirit Calling You to a Ministry?

Thanks for all the prayers for a smooth surgery and speedy recovery. I anticipate there will be good news by the time this edition of the bulletin is published.

It is also nice to know that so many people actually read the bulletin. I should not be surprised. The level of participation in our parish is very good. That participation calls for keeping informed.

Each one of us is called to discipleship in our homes, places of work or school, and in our neighborhoods. There are also times when one may be called to serve in a parish ministry as well. Has your life situation changed so that you might have more time to be involved in a parish ministry? What one does in the parish
may also strengthen one’s discipleship at home.

Let any staff person or me know if you would like to explore a ministry in the parish.