I write these few words on my way back from the second annual conference of the Saint Gregory the Great Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, where I offered an address on ‘Sunday and Society’. The theme of the conference was on ‘Keeping Sunday’, in light of Josef Pieper’s ‘Leisure, the Basis of Culture’.
A written version my own talk, and of the other speakers, will soon be published. Suffice to say now that the conference was a grand success, bringing together 250 people – teachers, writers, artists, priests, parents, children, families – to think, discuss, pray, converse, share beautiful meals, and in general, re-create themselves in the spirit of true leisure. We all took time away from various schedules – always demanding our attention – to retreat to the Carmelite Centre, nestled in a bucolic setting just north of Edmonton.
There are so many truly wonderful families, sacrificing in great joy – one of those many paradoxes of our Catholic Faith – to raise children in a world that is increasingly hostile. God always provides, as He did this weekend. We should be grateful, and not lose our trust and hope, that although the darkness (seems) to grow, the light will always shine brighter.
