This month’s Beacon was written by Grace Everett

Summer has arrived, and with it a more leisurely, intentional, and gentle life pace. It is a dedicated time for activities bringing family and friends together with reunions, graduations, weddings, and travel. 

Perhaps for some, it signals a time of waking to the sounds of nature, fostering a sense of daily peace or of being lulled to sleep by a crisp ocean breeze. Depending on your point of reference, summer can offer a quiet reprieve, but it also entices you to embrace the unknown, perhaps slowly preparing you for the next season(s) on the horizon. As Catholics, we are guided by the liturgical seasons, one of which can sneak up on us while the warmth of summer barely fades – Advent. 

Advent invites us to slow down and to receive whatever God puts in front of us. A time to reflect and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. It is a time when we share stories about His miraculous and holy birth and how His coming into this world ushered in a new season, preparing us for the revelation of Emmanuel, God-with-us. It asks us to look at what is right in front of us lest we sometimes miss Him in the movements and details of our days. 

In anticipation of the coming Advent season, The Beacon team invites all parishioners to Share the Good News. Specifically, we would like to encourage everyone to help prepare each other and our hearts for the arrival of the Lord. 

Using the link below, we hope you might share where you see God at work in our SJN parish. Our hope is that our personal preparations in anticipation of His coming will be inspired by the revelation of the many ways that God is at work with us and around us. 

For example, when asked to share where they saw God, the summer campers at SJN Vacation Bible School provided the following examples: 

I saw Jesus in people helping me. 

I saw God when He helped me make new Friends. 

Please help inspire your fellow parishioners with 1-2 lines about where or how you have witnessed God at work at St. John Neumann by clicking on the link below and submitting your contributions over the next few months. 

These will be compiled and published in our November issue. 

SHARE THE GOOD NEWS HERE 

May you fill your heart with the warmth of His peace, and may you open yourself to His grace, preparing for the gift of He Himself. 

We wish you a restorative and rejuvenating summer and ask all to continue to hold those devastated by the Texas floods in your prayers.