One of the Lord’s imperatives to His first disciples was “Come away with me and rest awhile.” As we come to the end of summer, I hope you were able to find some time to relax and be renewed during this wonderful season.

“Shocking,” “eye-opening,” and “inspirational” are only a few of the words used by members of St. Joseph Parish, Hillsborough, to describe their recent service trip to McAllen, Texas. The group, which consisted of 17 young adults (including myself) and five chaperones, travelled to the southern border city in response to the growing immigration crisis there, and the humanitarian problems it entails.

KENDALL PARK — “What you have signed up for publicly is not going to be easy, but possible,” Father Timothy A. Christy warned the congregation of Catholic school teachers seated before him in St. Augustine of Canterbury Church Aug. 27. “You are asked to proclaim in word and deed what we love, who we love: Jesus Christ. The way we pass on his way of life is Catholic education.”

When Allan Caballero received a call offering him the diocesan position, director of the Office of Hispanic Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry, he was with his family at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Fatima, Portugal. “I was so excited and grateful to begin a new journey and to use my experience and education to advance the mission of our local Church,” he said. “We are very excited to have Allan join our team,” said Jennifer Ruggiero, who heads the diocese’s Secretariat for Family and Pastoral Life.