What’s Your Cure for the Summertime Blues?

What’s Your Cure for the Summertime Blues?

Faith Formation sessions are almost over for the year and summer is coming. Students are delighted yet catechists may have different reactions. Some, like the students, can’t wait for rest and relaxation. Close the books and do nothing until the fall! Others enjoy staying active with sports, reading, or vacationing. Ultimately, teachers get bored by a lack of mental stimulation. If this sounds like you, consider becoming the student and immerse yourself in some type of growth. Perhaps you can find a cure for the summertime blues.

 Attend an Adult Education Class

Many parishes gear up adult education classes over the summer. In spite of lower mass attendance due to vacation travel, summer can actually be a higher period of attendance for adults as their commitments shift. Work towards certification or broaden your understanding of the content you teach during the year. Check out the offerings at my parish!

Read a Book about the Catholic Faith

It may seem like an obvious solution, however, if you’re out of the habit of reading you may not be aware of the plethora of great reading available! There are so many resources available you may want to take a trip to the local Catholic bookstore and peruse the titles. Try narrowing down the focus to a specific genre such as Church History, Christian Mystics, Spirituality, New Evangelization, or Family Life. New fantastic books are published every day!

Attend a Retreat

When is the last time you took time for yourself? There are a variety of retreats available at local retreat centers and monasteries offering one day to Month long retreats. They are usually very affordable or even allow a sliding scale if money is tight.

Visit a Different Parish

Perhaps you have wanted to visit another Catholic Church in your area. Summer is a great time to experience worship elsewhere. Parishes approach the mass differently according to the local demographics. Maybe attending mass in a different environment is what you need. Be open to God’s graces through different styles of music, preaching, and community. You may be surprised by a different approach or gain a new sense of appreciation of what your parish already offers!

Include Catholic Sightseeing During Your Vacation

It is truly amazing just how many Shrines are in the United States! If driving to your vacation destination include a stop or two at shrines, grottos and basilicas along the way. It’s truly a great way to learn about saints and the faithful. You might even find wonderful souvenirs or gifts!

These are only some of the wonderful opportunities to find your cure for the summertime blues! What’s your cure?