With the unofficial end of summer and the return from summer vacation, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has resumed “life as we know it” in the Chancery, but not before revisiting the traditional September writing assignment:  “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” 

The Bishop writes about what was a busy summer, filled with highs and lows, including opportunities to connect with his fellow Vincentians, his priests and seminarians, and the faithful in a host of parishes around the Diocese.  Bishop also took the opportunity to catch up on his reading and writing, and is poised to launch his second pastoral letter – this time dedicated to the Holy Year of Mercy. 

Bishop O’Connell offers a special mention of the weeks leading up to the July 22 death of his mother  June  O’Connell, and the grace-filled time he shared with her as the family got to say good-bye.

An essay by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

How I spent my summer vacation

As a kid, the first week "back to school" regularly occasioned a homework assignment to write the annual "how I spent my summer vacation" essay.  It was fun to think back on those "lazy, hazy, crazy days" but after the first few sentences, I was hard pressed to come up with much different than the year before.  I mean, after writing about "sleeping late, riding my bike, cutting grass, 4th of July picnic, a carnival or two, going swimming and the trips to the shore," there were not a whole lot of noteworthy events to commit to paper.  It was a challenge coming up with enough colorful adjectives to drag out the sentences for an entire page.  I guess I managed!

Fifty years or so later, I don't have the same difficulty.  With each passing year, summer seemed to pass by more quickly once the 4th of July rolled around and the idea of vacation was simply a little bit here and a little bit there.  Before you knew it, Labor Day arrived and it started all over again.  This summer was no exception.

I began the summer at Cape May with my Vincentian confreres at their vacation house.  Since leaving Washington, D.C., and becoming Bishop of Trenton, I don't get to see my brother Vincentians very much.  Cape May brings many of us together on the porch of the summer house to share funny memories from our seminary days and early assignments as priests.  And some of those stories are actually true!  I consider myself very blessed to be part of this great family of dedicated religious men in the Church.

From Cape May, I headed up the Garden State Parkway to Point Pleasant which would become "home base" for the rest of July and August.  This summer, I had a number of writing projects on the agenda, the most important of which was my second pastoral letter for the upcoming "Holy Year of Mercy."  As a bishop, I look for opportunities to fulfill my "teaching office" through writing since it is the way I can reach and teach most Catholics within the Diocese.  The Monitor and diocesan social media provide that forum for me. 

Summer also offers me the chance to informally visit parishes on weekends and special occasions.  This summer, I celebrated Masses in the parishes of St. Dominic, Epiphany and Visitation in Brick; St. Martha and St. Peter in Point Pleasant; St. Catherine/St. Margaret in Spring Lake; St. Michael in West End; Our Lady of Sorrows/St. Anthony in Hamilton; St. Charles in Cinnaminson; St. Joan of Arc in Marlton; and St. Mary in Colts Neck (I hope I didn't forget any place!). I really enjoyed visiting with parishioners on these occasions.

This summer brought me back and forth to the Chancery and home several times for meetings and appointments.  July was a particularly difficult month since my Mother passed away on July 22 and I tried to visit with her at the nursing home in Lawrenceville frequently in the weeks prior to her death.  Those visits are sad but precious memories.  I don't think, even now, that the reality of her passing has fully sunk in.  She was the love of our lives, my brothers and me.

Growing up, I always enjoyed long walks along the beach and boardwalk and going swimming.  With my mobility issues and prosthetic leg, that is no longer a possibility.  The last time I went in the ocean was the summer I became bishop, five years ago!  The Atlantic still looks as inviting as ever to me but I have learned to enjoy it vicariously and at a distance.  The weather was great this summer, wasn't it?

In addition to writing, I was able to catch up on tons of reading that I just cannot get to during the rest of the year.  I enjoyed reading Robert Dunne's "909 Days That Changed the World" about the public life of Christ in the Gospels, some scripture commentaries, Pope Francis' encyclical, some articles on theology and canon law, and, of course the last few James Patterson novels that I missed.  I finally surrendered to the wonder of "iBooks" and was also able to write a few talks and homilies for the Fall. 

One "new" thing that I enjoyed was picking up the paintbrush after a 34-year hiatus and attacking the canvas again.  I love impressionist painting and I worked on a few studies — they won't be hanging anywhere soon, however.  I have fallen out of practice!

Summer also gives me time to meet with a number of priests and seminarians in casual conversation at a variety of venues to build on the fraternity that is so essential to building healthy relationships around the Diocese.  We are truly blessed in them!

And, yes, I was a regular at the diner I wrote about last year.  It was the same crowd sitting in the same seats telling the same stories ... along with a few newcomers.

Well, there it is — "how I spent my summer vacation!"   It was a pretty full summer for sure.  Some work, some relaxation, some preparation for the year ahead.  And here I am, still writing about it like I did when I was beginning a new school year so many years ago.  I guess it's true what I often say about aging: we don't become different ... we just become more!