Summer 2019: A Summer of Growth

By Ethan Holverson

As the school year draws to a close, students and faculty have started making their summer plans for their jobs, vacations, living arrangements, etc. One thing that is commonly pushed to the back burner during this time is our spiritual lives.

During the school year, Loras offers a variety of different opportunities for us to grow in different ways. Classes are designed to help us grow mentally, athletic programs are available to help us grow physically, living with and around our friends helps us grow socially and emotionally, and there are various opportunities offered to grow spiritually (Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, etc.).

With all of these different resources available within a 10 minute on-campus walk, it can be pretty easy to take for granted the opportunities that are available during the school year. However, once you take your last final exam and leave campus, these opportunities are no longer available until the next school year, and it becomes decision time. Will this summer be a summer of growth, or a summer of complacency?

Summer break is a break from the rigors of college school work, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a break from God. Whether you consider yourself a “religious” person or not, summer break is a perfect time to make great strides in your relationship with God. This begins with making good prayer habits. Summer is a great time to try something new, like praying with scripture, doing a daily rosary, or even making a visit to see Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. Jesus wants to talk to you, and prayer is the way in which we can do that.

If you aren’t sure where to start, here is what some other students are planning to do this summer:

First-year Seth Kurzynski said, “I plan on continuing and strengthening my daily prayer life. I plan on going to Mass each weekend, and I will try to make it to daily Mass about once each week. I’m also hoping to spend time in Eucharistic Adoration and I also want to get involved at my local parish, helping with youth events.”

Junior Alex Riedel said, “I plan to continue going to Sunday Mass, and continue to seek out the Truth.” Sophomore Alex Rhomberg said, “I plan to grow spiritually by incorporating prayer and Confession into my daily schedule.”

Sophomore Joanna Dillon plans to do something a little different, saying, “This summer I will be spending my summer working at the Amate House putting Love into action. Part of this includes field work at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, working with members of the community and churches that have been impacted by violence and conflict. This summer, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone to do something very meaningful. I am excited to help others and show God’s love through my actions.”

If you are Catholic, and have a desire to find out more information on where Mass (and other Sacraments) can be found by where you’re living this summer, MassTimes.com is a great resource that provides this information. For those who are staying in the Dubuque area, there are two 24 hour Adoration chapels near Loras campus that are available to the public (The Power of Prayer and St. Mary’s chapel in East Dubuque).