Every Tuesday, our parish staff meets for a staff meeting.  Sometimes I ask them to share a “God moment” or where they experienced God in the past week.  This past staff meeting, a number of them shared how they were truly ‘uplifted’ by going outside and seeing the beautiful changing

leaves, getting fresh air and spending time with family while doing so.  What a gift that is!

As I write this, I am getting ready to go away for a couple days to go camping with my dad, grandpa, uncle and cousins.  I get excited about this opportunity because it gives me an opportunity to pray in a different setting, alone in solitude.  While I pray for a living, this time in the woods fosters silence in my life.  It fosters reflection.  It offers peace.

In light of this, Mother Teresa once said: “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

When we enter into the Gospel for this Sunday, notice how Jesus speaks of the tax collector and the way he prays.  He said that he “stood off at a distance” and truly prayed from the heart.  This week, strive to take time to stand at a distance, away from everyone and enter into solitude and silence.  In doing so, you will encounter God and ultimately, grow in silence.

Please enjoy these pictures of where I like to sit and pray in southern Ohio and where I like to gaze and pray here on the campus!  What a beautiful tree!

Happy Silence!

Fr. Jeremy

Ps. Reminder: Calling All men!  Don’t forget to come this Wednesday to a great cookout, Exodus 90 talk and time together. Thanks!