Summer at our Churches
There is an… unfortunate idea that I have encountered at most of the churches I have served as a seminarian and as a priest, which holds that parishes “shut down” during the summer. This will often manifest as the cancellation of recurring meetings like Pastoral Councils, Rosary groups, or small groups or the desire not to preach on important topics until “everyone is back”.
I understand where this impulse comes from: most of our faith formation programs are planned to coincide with the school year, the school itself serves as an anchor and focus at our larger parishes, and many people use the summer to take vacations. And people do take vacations, though likely never more than 10% of our community on a given weekend. And this seems to be a very American notion that goes beyond our parishes, that summer is different and no one should expect anything of us during the summer.
Nevertheless, our faith does not take a vacation, and I have always bristled at the notion that parishes should not offer programming from mid-June until mid-August, except for maybe a VBS week or maybe a parish picnic. I generally do not support canceling meetings or programs just because the school year is over. But I have also never come up with a good solution, or a particularly compelling program to keep people engaged during the summer months.
On my darker days, I worry that we Americans in general and church people specifically are burning ourselves out. Meaning that we push ourselves hard for a period of time, anticipating that there will be a period of rest. The “work hard, play hard” mentality. I understand the business-minded impulse underlying this idea, but it is not a great way to live our faith. Instead, our faith should be sustainable, that is, it should be structured such that we are always running at an appopriate capacity that enlivens us and does not require us to take a break.
In other words, what can I give to the Lord, such that I can always give that to the Lord?
I see people, for example, start to pray by committing to 45-minutes every day. And then they stop praying very quickly because they push themselves hard and burn out. Instead, I always recommend people start with 5-minutes every day, because all of us can give the Lord 5-minutes every day, always. And then, as prayer is integrated into their lives, they gain the capacity to give the Lord 10-minutes, and then 20-minutes every day. By building up to it slowly, prayer becomes a part of their life that does not wear them out, but becomes deeply built-in. It requires less effort and gives more life.
Is there a way that we can approach our faith that integrates it into our life, that builds us up rather than drains us, and thereby allows us to give that time and effort to the Lord every day or every week, rather than in fits and starts? Are there faith practices that I should make sure I do not take a vacation from this summer?
Interfaith Coalition Board
Many of our parishioners do not realize that our churches are all members of the Interfaith Coalition of Whatcom County (website, “About Us”). Interfaith Coalition has been the primary means of religious communities in our area to pool their resources for a greater good. In previous eras, Interfaith has tackled food security, healthcare, and housing, something our individual congregations are unable to do by themselves. Most recently, Interfaith was running the “Family Promise” program, which provided housing for homeless families.
Recently, Interfaith spun off its housing programs, and is now taking a deep look into its identity and purpose, asking what its next season is calling it to do. Given how Catholic churches often serve as anchor communities even in ecumenical and interreligious contexts (we have the largest institutional footprint and regional/national support), it is important that our churches be involved in helping Interfaith plan their next steps. Specifically, Interfaith is looking for new members of their Board of Directors and have asked me if there is someone willing to serve from our churches. If you have skills to offer a governing Board, and would like to discern serving with Interfaith, please contact me so that we can have a conversation.
Fr. Moore 