Just this past week, I had the opportunity to lead a formation night for parents of second graders preparing for their first communion.  At the end of the evening, I shared the story of an experience I had about halfway through my time in the seminary.  Every year we had Christmas break for a month—praise God!  During this break, I went on a weekend deer hunt that caused me to miss Sunday Mass.  The following week, I went out of town and missed Sunday Mass again!  Somewhere following that week, I started to question everything about my faith.  The thoughts came to me “Is this real?” “Is this just a thing dreamt up by a bunch of old men to make a living for them?” “Can’t I just live my life and be free?”  I began to ask “why?” about everything I was doing.

Fortunately, my break came to an end, and I went back to the seminary.  Within the week, I celebrated the sacrament of reconciliation and began to pray and attend Mass daily again.  Somewhere in the midst of all of that prayer, the conviction came to my core—this is real, this is good—it is not made up by us but a gift from Jesus Himself!

I share this story to remind us of how quickly the voice of the enemy can intensify when we walk away from Jesus.  Doubt can happen rapidly.  When we start walking apart from Jesus things get weird fast.  This is why we need to recommit our lives to walking with Jesus.  We need to stay with Him.  Padre Pio’s prayer after Communion is so powerful for us to ponder and to pray with this Lent and always, especially when we feel ourselves drifting away.  Here is just a part of it…  Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You.  You know how easily I abandon You.  Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.  Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.  Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.  Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.  Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.  Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.  Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord,
Fr. Jeremy

PS This weekend, our Parish Council representatives will be present in the entryway of the Church to receive any comments/needs you may have that will help benefit our parish.  We will receive them and figure out ways to respond to these needs.  Thank you for sharing your heart.