Sabbaticaling

Tomorrow I will start my roughly 34 hours of travel to New Zealand. This graced time of sabbatical—made possible by a Clergy Renewal Grant through the Lilly Foundation—will be an opportunity for rest and renewal. 

For those who thought I started my sabbatical a couple weeks ago, you are not mistaken. This past week I spent time at the NY Encounter, a cultural event hosted by the movement Communion and Liberation. I would encourage a visit to the website of the Encounter and perhaps even watching recordings of the presentations on their YouTube channel. 

I will be spending this time with a good priest friend of mine in Auckland. My time will be focused on a few elements: (1) renewing my relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary—a relationship that was profoundly fruitful in seminary and now needs my attention; (2) spending time reading good literature, which has always served as a great help to my preparation for preaching; and (3) enjoying the beauty of this distant land and taking better care of my physical health. 

I’ve invited members of my parish to join me in reading 33 Days to Morning Glory as we prepare ourselves for consecration to Mary on the Annunciation of the Lord. More information can be found here. I’ve also started reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, the first on my list of books to read. I have tried not to create too long of a list of books so that I don’t get caught up trying to get them all read.

As I pray for my friends and family and parishioners I leave behind during this time, I ask for your prayers as well.