Catholic Cruising Again

I just returned from a cruise to Alaska…  A close friend told me that she had met a gal who was organizing her first Catholic Singles Cruise and I always wanted to see Alaska so I told her that I would join the group.  From my initial involvement in the trip, I didn’t think much about it being a singles thing, I thought more as continuing my love of travel in the security of a group.  Though, the thought of the sacraments being available on the daily did warm my heart!  While this cruise wasn’t as spiritual as the cruises that I have been on with Father Morrow (where there's daily Mass, Adoration, Rosary, Spiritual Direction, Reconciliation) I still returned full of blessings.

Now, I don’t know if it’s in God’s plan for me to meet a husband while traveling, but I do know that every time I join one of these cruises I always meet such great friends! I was able to get close with a couple single ladies, who like me are living out our single vocations true to our Catholic faith.  I was able to share some of the things that I am struggling with in my walk with the Lord, some of my recent trials and tribulations and just what life is like living as a single woman no longer in the prime of my youth.  I am at that age where I am aging out of the young adult events and entering a group of Catholics that is not super represented in our Church. That single Catholics group that are not old, but not so young either (smile).

Yet, as a Father Leo said on the first day of Mass on the ship, “you are on a cruise, no one can feel sad.”  God, has blessed me with the ability to travel and just the fact that I am able to visit all these new-to-me places is enough benediction.  Yet, God never disappoints in providing people for me to share the experience with.  Though the isolation of COVID has been over for sometime now, the effects of it for me are still so present.  I haven’t been able to get myself back connected with a spiritual community. Other than Mass, I have no connection to other Catholics.  As an introvert, COVID made me a bit of a recluse and now thinking of joining groups seems like so much effort.  Yet, this cruise made me realize how much I am missing because God didn’t create us to be alone, He created us for relationship.

I loved being around other Catholics and having conversations that dug deep beyond the superficial.  I enjoyed going to fancy dinners with a couple of ladies and finding comfort in their beliefs which matched mine.  It’s always so therapeutically to find people that validate our faith journey, that understand the sacrifice of living a Catholic life in these modern times.  People you don’t have to explain why you are the caretaker of your family and why you don’t give up on the lost sheep… On this trip, it was also extremely inspiring to share our single journey and though we are content, professional women we do hope to find a partner in crime to join and share our happy lives.  It was edifying to share a meal, a drink, even a dance or two… 

It was also nice to look at myself, ten years later (after my first cruise) and see a mature Catholic reflection.  I also spent a lot of time on my own, exploring Alaska joining the typical excursions. During these times outside in mostly coastal rainforest I was able to connect with God through nature.  Everyday, I was inundated by God's beauty, the majesty of His creation and it was humbling to realize that this is my life!  That I get to explore His pristine creation and when I am surrounded by such vast, natural beauty it's so easy to see God, to be in His presence - in complete awe.  There were moments where I stopped myself from crying because after recently living some of the most difficult months of my life, I found peace.  Whether in the Tongass, gardens, Glacier Bay or on an Alaskan Huskies Sled Ride - I knew that God was with me, and when God is with me, who can be against me?  The Lord is by my side and I will not be afraid!        

I'll try to write at least once a month.