An update to a previous post.

I just got the CDs in the mail from my talk for the Augustine Institute. Perhaps not quite the same thrill as holding my book for the first time, but pretty exciting nonetheless.

For the unaware, this CD is a 45-minute talk about my experiences on the road and the effect it had on me and my faith life.

You can get a copy (as well as other great Catholic content) for the low price of $3.50 from the Catholic Market here: https://catholic.market/audio/?sort=newest

And, as a reminder for those who are interested in getting a copy of the book, you can purchase copies at https://52masses.square.site.

Thanks for your interest.

I spent last week with the family exploring, for the first time, the beguiling Mackinac Island between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. But where others were there for the shopping, the bicycling, the fudge, or the horse-drawn carriages, my first inclination was to explore the island’s Catholic roots.

I was not disappointed.

Mackinac, like so many other outposts west of the east, was initially explored by the Jesuits and their Native friends. Specifically, Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet and the Huron Tribe. In fact, Father Marquette’s outsized role in the island’s history is preserved in bronze, just below Fort Mackinac.

A few feet away sits a replica of the Missionary Bark Chapel, where Father Claude Dablon and a member of the Huron tribe met as part of an expedition to determine whether it was suitable for inhabiting and raising crops (the answer was “yes” to the former, “not so much” to the latter).

Finally, my wife and I ambled down the main thoroughfare to the beautiful St. Anne, which preserves the faith’s 300-year-old connection to the island. Sadly, though, we just missed Mass.

When it was over, we boated back to our launching point at St. Ignace, the town’s name serving as first sign of the area’s strong connections to the Society of Jesus.

Father Marquette.

The Missionary Baptist Chapel. Inside is a replica of a meeting between Father Marquette and a member of the Huron Tribe.

St. Anne, which has a 300-year-old connection to the area.

Like most everything else on Mackinac Island, St. Anne is quite captivating.

Outdoor Stations of the Cross.

Yesterday marked a first. I took in Sunday Mass at Holy Trinity in Middletown, Ohio, the same place I visited about 13 months ago as part of my yearlong trip. It was my first, “trip back.”

Wonderfully, the reason I was there was back in action. The subject of my story from Middletown was Kara Jackson, a parishioner at Holy Trinity who answered her call to serve Mass in all 50 states several years earlier. She was, I like to say, the me before me.

Kara was again serving, mom Tina and father Rick in attendance as usual. I was there not for any book-related activities, but because the district meeting for St. Vincent de Paul was being held after Mass. Coincidentally, last year my wife and I relocated to Butler County, Ohio, so Holy Trinity and St. John (the other church in the Holy Family Parish and where the final two photos were shot), are just a short drive north.

It was great catching up again with the Jackson family.

Kara Jackson at work.

Holy Trinity in Middletown, Ohio

Holy Trinity before Mass. That’s Kara’s mom in red in the veil.

The other church in the Holy Family is St. John, located just a few blocks away.

St. John is a traditional Catholic worship space.

I spent yesterday afternoon at St. Bartholomew in Cincinnati, joining my wife to take in the St. Bart’s production of The Sound of Music. A few of her students and others connected with her school (St. Vivian) were in the production, and we were there to show our support.

Much to my wife’s surprise, I had never seen The Sound of Music before, either in stage or screen versions, largely owing to my general lack of interest in musicals. But, in this case, the showing held a special meaning for me.

During the course of my trip, I attended Mass at Blessed Sacrament in Stowe, Vermont, a marvelous church in the picturesque village. Its story is remarkable, in part because it owes its very existence to one Maria von Trapp, an early worshiper at the mission church that existed before Blessed Sacrament was founded.

I’ve included a closing shot from the production as well as some of the spectacular artwork that adorns the church, courtesy of famed French artist Andre Girard and, later, his student, Josephine Belloso. The latter is retired teacher who I had the immense privilege of interviewing.

If you’re ever in Vermont, don’t pass up the chance to visit Blessed Sacrament.

The sisters take a bow at the conclusion of The Sound of Music.

Andre Girard’s artwork behind the altar at Blessed Sacrament.

Before coming to Blessed Sacrament, Girard was initially supposed to only work on the Stations of the Cross at the church.

Girard’s artistry extended to the outside of the church.

Rather than stained glass, Blessed Sacrament features Girard’s signature painting on glass, with scenes from throughout the Gospels, including this one of the Wedding Feast at Cana.

One of the many blessings of my 52 Masses travels was the interest others have shown in my experiences. And this latest example is truly humbling.

I was invited by the Augustine Institute in Colorado to deliver their monthly talk for June. Each month, the institute which exists to serve the formation of Catholics for the New Evangelization, invites someone to do a 45-minute talk that it shared with parishes and Catholics on CD and mp3s.

My talk is currently available for order at the site, if you’re interested. You can also check out any of the Institute’s other inspiring programming, including books and videos.

The talk is available here.