ear Friends in Christ,
June is the common month for graduations (although some young people have already graduated). It is common to just want to get out of school, but like a wedding, graduation is only the beginning. The day of graduation is rightfully filled with pride, pomp and circumstance. We need to reach goals. A diploma is a satisfactory mile marker. Like so many things, we need to ask, “Now what do I do?”Perhaps the question could be “Now what have I become?” The Lord has plans that He would love to see accomplished in each of us. Like Him, we are called to find ways to serve others and not to believe that now it is time for me to be served. It is so important to have the right attitude. Mother Angelica once said, “We should not be as worried about the initials after our name, but rather the initials before our name.” She is speaking about having “St.” in the front of our name. People who know God are special and when one is with them one feels something different. I can still recall the first time I was in the presence of Pope Saint John Paul II. There was electricity in the room. Every gesture, every look and each expression conveyed a zeal for life and a radiation of the Light of God. What great things we can be and do for the glory of God when He is part of our lives. If only we were as enthusiastic about our faith as we are with so many passing things: sporting events, shows, concerts, etc. These things are good to enjoy, but they cannot be ends in themselves because they do not lead to giving of oneself. This is also the month of ordinations to the Holy Priesthood. Bishop Williams ordained two new priests for the Diocese of Camden on May 17th: Fathers Timothy Mulrenan and Thomas Piro. Zeal is a virtue that builds on enthusiasm. Vince Lombardi once said, “If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.” Let us pray that our new priests will be on fire for the Holy Gospel and that the ways of this world will never wear them down but merely help to stoke the fires that will be ignited in them they received from the Holy Spirit. We should live our spiritual life as though our lives depended on it…because, actually, our lives do depend on it.
God bless you,
Father Szolack