Reconnections (10/20/2024)

Last evening, I was down to lector at the 4:30 p.m. Mass. I went early to make sure the readings were marked and to look over the prayers of the faithful before Mass began. After checking everything out, I went to the first pew and began my prayers. It was then that a visiting priest walked out into the sanctuary. I knew him. I waved. I think that surprised him. After he went back into the sanctuary, I went to speak to him. I introduced myself. Immediately he hugged me. He remembered me. I was the one with whom he spoke when he first called the diocese to discern his vocation. We spoke for a while and then he hugged me again. It was good to reconnect.

After Mass, my husband and I went to the parish Oktoberfest. As we walked through the line, one of my confirmation students from a previous year was serving. We spoke briefly; I didn’t want to hold up the line. After we were seated, she came to my table and we spoke longer. She shared highlights from her trip to Peru and she produced a medal of St. Martin de Porres that she’d brought back for me. I asked her about her post high school plans and was thrilled with her choice. I gave her my email and phone in the event she needed references for applications. We hugged before she returned to her spot on the serving line.

A member from a community nearby who had helped with an evangelization series we’d offered at her church stopped. We chatted and caught up. It was so good to see her. A woman who always helps me with the Council of Catholic Women’s Cookie Walk came and sat with us. Then a couple Kenneth and I know sat down with us. As we were visiting and eating, Fr. Milot stopped at our table and we asked him to join us, which he did.

A beautiful day got more beautiful with each reconnection. I’d spent the morning out and about in the beautiful weather, taking in the sights and considering my journey’s blessings this past year. And then to have an evening with so many “reconnections” was like a bouquet on the blessings. I thanked the LORD last evening. My journey in Him has been truly blessed. And I did what I often do when I am overwhelmed by the LORD’s love. I just sat and smiled.

We rarely know what will happen on our day’s journey, we just have to go forth in faith, believing with all our might that our journey matters and seeking to bring Christ to others and others to Christ. We may find, as I did yesterday, that the connections we make matter not only to us but to others.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.