By Pat Haggerty

How often lately have you heard the question, “Where has the summer gone?”  A lot, I am sure.  For some reason, August has a way of crashing through summer leaving us in the wake of turning leaves and shorter days.  Students and teachers are returning to school; parents are already balancing schedules; and the rest of us are just lamenting over the passage of vacation days and more relaxed times.

We can’t avoid transitions in our lives.  It may simply be the changing of seasons, the movement to a new job or some change in our family structure or our community make-up.  Transitions are not always easy or smooth.  They involve change and that is not easy for anyone.  Some people are more adaptable than others; it may be a part of our DNA---the ability to be resilient, the flexibility to “go with the flow.”  Whatever it is, we either have it or we don’t.

By Pat Haggerty

We are about to celebrate the beautiful feast of the Assumption.  What comes to mind for us when we think of Mary’s Assumption?  Do we think of Mary ascending into heaven surrounded by choirs of angels?  Do we think of Mary’s “yes” to the Lord?  Do we think of Mary as our powerful intercessor to her Son?  Perhaps we think of all these things.

We can find associations to all of the above in the readings for the feast day.  In the first reading from Revelations, we read:  “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” We get a glimpse of our salvation in the second reading from 1 Corinthians:  “For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man.  For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life. . .”   In the gospel acclamation we sing:  “Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.”  Finally, in the gospel reading, we ponder the beautiful words of Mary’s Magnificat:  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; m spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”

By Pat Haggerty

For many of us, summer is a time to take a break, get away, and rejuvenate.  We use this time to reconnect with friends and family and to connect with nature.   This may mean hiking on a mountain, picnicking in a forest grove, enjoying a campfire on a cool night, or walking the beach at your favorite seashore.  Whatever your connection with nature entails, it is sure to bring you closer to the wonders of God.

The other day I was lounging on my beach chair at the New Hampshire shore.  I was enjoying watching the waves roll in and seeing the progress of the tides.  All of a sudden, I saw a small blob creeping up onto the sand in a kind of “worm-like” fashion.  To my amazement, it was a baby seal!  Within minutes a small crowd of onlookers had gathered to view this tiny spectacle of nature.  In all my years at this beach, I have never seen a baby seal up close and personal.

By Pat Haggerty

We often hear the term “life-long learners.”  That is especially true in the education field.  Many schools and districts have something pertaining to life-long learning in their mission statements.  It is definitely something of value to aspire to.

We can be life-long learners of texts and materials, but we can also be learners of the world around us.  That is just as important.  To learn from the world and those around us is a gift to be treasured.  New doors can be opened for us and self-discovery can be the bonus.

I recently took a trip to Quebec City for a convergence of Lay Assumptionists from three areas.  We met at Montmartre, the Assumptionist facility in Québec, and we were hosted by Alliance members from that region.  What a wonderful and meaningful gathering!  I have been reflecting on the experience ever since.

I took away many things from the trip, but I would like to share three key remembrances with you.  They have to do with hospitality, energy and consecrated religious.  Those sound like such random topics, but they all have something to do with what I experienced.