Summer time, and the living was easy…
After last summer’s record heat, who would have thought we’d have a summer filled with such delightful, fall-like days? Do not get me wrong – I am SOO grateful for the gift of a cooler summer. And for wonderful weather in Scotland and London (10 nights and 11 days and the only rain we got was one night between 4 and 6 am…) And for AMAZING weather at Christian Family Camp – in my twenty years of doing camp, never did we have weather this cool, not even the years when Camp was in early June. How nice it was to snuggle up in my sleeping bag, all zipped up and be ‘just right’ for sound sleeping.
“Summertime, and the living is easy” goes the song from Porgy and Bess. Certainly, that has been my weather induced experience with the summer of 2013. I find though, that the days are coming SOO quickly to an end. The first day of school will have happened by the time you read this. And the UMSL orientation days will be over, as the new students arrive the 15th of August. Another season of welcoming and teaching and forming students, both at St. Ann and at New-man will have begun.
I can’t say I look forward to the end of summer. But I can say I look forward to the beginning of a new semester of grace. There is the excitement of the new and the possible and the endless opportunities that stretch out like beacons in time, calling and inviting one on the journey with great trust and openness. The easiness of summer gives way to the rhythm of class schedules, parent meetings, Newman activities and the interactions that make St. Ann such a vibrant community. The relative quiet of the school yard and field will be punctured by the joyful shouts, laughter and voices of our students at P.E. or recess or after-care. It is a wonderful sound to behold.
The end of summer also heralds the beginning of the RCIA class for those who are seeking to find out more about our Catholic faith, or who want to become Catholic. If you know of anyone with interest in be-coming Catholic or studying more about their faith, have them contact me or Pat Marstall at their earliest convenience.
Finally, this year is a confirmation year for our 7th and 8th grade students. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare their hearts for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into their lives…