My Summer In the Lakes

I was blessed this summer to have had the opportunity given to me by Rev. Michael Goyette, pastor of Our Lady of The Lakes Parish in Collins Lakes New Jersey, to spend time at his parish. It is common for those seminarians who are studying theology to be assigned a parish in the summer. The work at the parishes may vary on what the pastor needs from the seminarian. For a college seminarian going into his third year, it is not usual to have the opportunity to spend time in a parish over the summer. I worked at Golden Pheasant Country Club in Lumberton NJ as my job to finance my education. While at Our Lady of the Lakes, I was blessed to have the opportunity to visit parishioners who were homebound, those in the nursing home/assisted-living and other parishioners of Our Lady of the Lakes. Fr. Goyette emphasized that the work in a parish does not end with administrative work, fundraisers, and hard labor around the parish grounds. But the lives of the parishioners are the most important.

The celebration of the Mass is the center of our faith. I was also able to experience the importance of bringing the Eucharist and prayer into the homes of the parishioners I had visited. I had the opportunity to watch Fr. Goyette administer anointing of the sick and to bring the Eucharist to those parishioners who could not attend mass. As administrative work can get tiresome, I came to realize that a priest needs to be close with his parishioners. To have time away from the parish does not mean to have time away from the priesthood, but to bring the sacraments into the homes of Christ’s flock. I do not want to forget to mention that each Wednesday I ended my visits at a parishioner’s residence for a home-cooked meal. Being able to listen to different families and speak with people with different backgrounds was such a pleasure and grace, I now see in a deeper way, how moving this aspect of the priesthood is.

Gratefully, I was able to witness many of the virtues which are needed in order to run a parish. Thank you, Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, for welcoming me this summer. Please keep praying for priestly vocations in our parishes. Your endless prayers and support of vocations are a gift to every man and women’s discernment journey.

Jesus through Mary, grant the Diocese of Camden with an increase of vocations to the diocesan priesthood!