It's a Small World After All

I'm writing from Black River Falls, Wisconsin—our family's annual summer escape, near where my six in-law siblings all grew up in La Crosse. It's easy to reflect on God's creation when you're in such a green and lush setting—especially with barely any internet or mobile service. We've been hiking, swimming, fishing, ducking, zipping, and boating these past few days, and this weekend they'll be dozens and dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews enjoying flip-flop chicken, fried fish, and tray after tray of dessert bars (everyone has their own recipe and version).

As we were boarding the plane on Monday, a St. Monica family of five passed in the aisle, and I was excited to say, "hi!" The gentlemen across the aisle leaned over and said, "I fly every other week, and I've only ever recognized someone I know on my flight once. How do you know them?"

"We're all part of St. Monica Catholic Community," I proudly replied. It was a delightful reminder of everything our parish strives to be: welcome, worship, serving, and sustaining. Our family makes the journey each year to Wisconsin to reconnect to those who love and form us. Our parish family gathers each Sunday to reconnect with our God, who loves and forms us.

Our globe is vast—but communion with God and each other makes it a small world after all.

Thank you for sustaining this community built on welcome. Thank you for keeping this parish a community of family and love. Enjoy a beautiful weekend of independence and freedom!