Sometimes we may think that we have nothing to give to others. We may see ourselves as ordinary and not particularly talented. The life of Father Solanus Casey reminds us that everyone has a gift to share with others.

Born to a large Irish-American Catholic family, Barney Casey was always cheerful and kind. He felt called to the priesthood, but couldn’t keep up with his studies at the seminary and was sent home.

Casey didn’t give up. He entered the Capuchin Franciscans, a religious order of priests and brothers. Studying for the priesthood again was very difficult, but finally he was ordained a priest. He took the religious name of Father Solanus Casey.

Father Solanus was known for his wonderful gift of hospitality. He would welcome people in from the cold and feed them warm food and hot coffee. Hour after hour Father Solanus would listen to the hardships of the poor and the troubled who came to the monastery door, sometimes throughout the night. He showed God’s presence in the world by using his gifts for listening and welcoming people who needed help until his death in 1957.

Family Activity

	Have a family discussion about doing God’s work. Start by sharing ways you, as parent(s), try to do the work God wants you to do. Encourage the rest of the family to think about the special kind of work that God might ask them to do when they are adults.

	•		Write the word hospitality on chart paper.
	•		Talk about ways, as a family, you can be hospitable to others. List the ways suggested, such as being greeters at church, or welcoming new neighbors.
	•		Select one way of hospitality for the family to share with others, and decide how to go about it.
	•		Assess the success of your shared hospitality.

See the Liturgical Calendar on this site for additional information.
See also Catechist—Lent or Teacher—Lent for Liturgy.