Tacos & Watermelon Juice

This past September, a delegation from St. Monica enjoyed the privilege of celebrating the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with St. Patrick in downtown Los Angeles. Our two communities celebrated Mass together, St. Monica presented a gift of a new processional cross, and we all made our way to the parking lot for dinner. Although they do not have a regular Saturday vigil Mass, the parking lot was bursting at the seams with people, and the line for tacos stretched to the edge of their property.

My son Leland was with me and kept eyeing someone his age behind us in line. "I'm Leland. I'm six." he introduced himself, "How old are you?" In truth, he was just eager for this new friend to share whatever toy she had— and just like that, he made his own dinner plans. "Can I sit with them?"

Leland stayed with their family until we left, asked for seconds, shared stories—and thought nothing of it. It was easy and came naturally. He can't make a pledge yet, but he pledged his heart to St. Patrick and asked when we would return. I can't imagine a better example of "our story is alive." As we're discerning our pledges, let's remember that natural longing in our hearts to be Together in Mission.