Traveling provides opportunity for Christian disciples

Thankfully, we can finally travel and visit relatives! It feels almost like the good ole pre-COVID days. We can venture out of our bubble and take a vacation or travel to visit family and friends. Traveling to new places is a fun adventure and presents a great opportunity for us as Christian disciples striving to be good stewards. 
Jesus was still in His mother’s womb when Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem where He was born. The Gospels are filled with stories of Jesus traveling and teaching His disciples. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He commissioned the 11 disciples to, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” – Matthew 28:19 
Don’t confuse stewardship with other programs or activities that we take a break from while on vacation. Even on vacation, we are called to continue to live our life as a Disciple of Christ. We should never take a vacation from prayer or Sunday Mass. Pray before meals even if you are in a restaurant. This quiet witness of Christian stewardship speaks volumes. 
Include visiting a new Catholic Church in an unfamiliar city as part of your adventure. Search Mass Time in the app store to find the Mass times at every Catholic Church in the city you will be visiting. There is a link to the parish’s website so this is a great way to determine which Church you want to visit.    
Sharing our faith and showing our love for others along our journey is simple when we are living the faith. It is also important to set this example for our children.  “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35
­­— Shannon Roh is the Executive Director of the Office of Development and Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Mobile.