By Maria-Pia Negro Chin | Catholic News Service

Whether you are taking time off from school or a vacation from work, summer can be a chance to rest your body and soul, connect with others and recharge.

Summer in New York City is filled with groups of young people excited to visit the area and make the most of their summer. On a recent subway ride to Queens, I chatted with one of these groups. The teens came from Ohio, and the group leaders said they were spending four weeks in New York doing volunteer work with a Christian organization.

What a neat way to spend your summer! They intended to make the most out of their break, and helping others was a priority for them. Their focus was on others and on God, while having fun.

Talking to them made me think of how important it is to be intentional about your summer.

The plans you make and the steps you take to accomplish those plans can make the difference between a fulfilling summer and a summer that feels wasted. There are many ways to set your summer goals, but pursuing activities that focus on others while keeping a connection with God -- like the teens in the subway -- seems like a good start.

One way to spend your summer is creating memories with family and loved ones. Plan a road trip with friends; take advantage of museums, concerts or other opportunities offered in your town; exchange favorite books and talk about them over lunch; learn a new recipe and share a meal with a relative.

Spending time with your loved ones without talking about work or school is a good opportunity to connect. One summer, I took my grandma to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. She shared childhood stories we had never heard before and she even recited a poem she had composed years ago.

This summer can also be a chance to help others. Though it might be late to sign up for a long-term service trip, there are still ways to serve others during the summer.

This includes volunteering at a soup kitchen or donating nonperishables to a food pantry, keeping water bottles to pass out to people in need, giving away gently worn clothes you don't need, volunteering at a homeless shelter or keeping a list of local shelters to pass out to homeless people.

There are many ways to give of your time and resources to help others. Here are 50 ways to perform corporal works of mercy: http://bit.ly/28QHHIn. Contact nonprofits in your area and the local Catholic Charities to see how you can help.

Summer can also be a chance to rekindle your relationship with God. Ways to do this can range from reading the Bible, doing "minipilgrimages" to nearby churches, going to a retreat or day of recollection, or even just going to the park and being thankful for the beauty of God's creation.

Finally, this summer can be an opportunity to reset and refocus your intentions and energies. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pull out your New Year's resolutions and take stock of the goals you wrote. It is not too late to pursue them. Your "summer bucket list" can set the tone for the rest of the year.

Each summer day is full of possibilities. Make the most out of each day!

Maria-Pia Negro Chin is a bilingual reporter/youth editor for The Tablet, newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.