August meeting reflection

Last weekend saw another enjoyable Sursum Corda get-together at St. Francis de Sales Oratory. This one was made more special by the addition of some of the young adults from the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago! A few enthusiastic St. Louis Susum Cordians were on hand to greet them on Friday night but the majority of the record attendance (41!!) came on Saturday, which began with eight ‘o clock Mass. After a breakfast in the hall, everyone piled into vehicles for the hour and a half drive to Onandoga Cave in Leesburg, MO. In spite of being very cold and clammy, the cave tour was most impressive and instructive. (Did anyone know that property is now measured in volume, not area? So you own any caves or other natural resources under your property down to the center of the earth!) Everyone had a chance to discuss the cave at a picnic lunch outside of the visitors center before heading over to the McCanns’ home in Kirkwood for a barbecue and volleyball! We were also treated to a spiritual conference by Canon Ueda on Pope Francis’ new encyclical Lumen Fidei, a powerful reminder of the importance of faith in our lives. The gathering broke up after ten ‘o clock Mass, followed by brunch on Sunday to end one of the most enjoyable weekends of my life. Things at the convent were never quiet as the girls discussed everything from old movies, to the Civil War, to family Christmas traditions! I wish especially to thank Nikki for organizing the event, Canon Ueda for reminding us of the spiritual purpose of our gathering, and the McCann family for graciously opening their home to us.

―T.L.