A Divine Trip

Melissa Presser reflects on an unintended summer pilgrimage.

When we planned our summer trip a year ago, I could never have imagined how it all would come to pass. At the time, my bestie Jen was still living here, I had just left my job of nearly 11 years; I was petrified to plan a trip so far out. But Jen was insistent that we plan the trip around taking the kids to Damascus, a Catholic Youth Summer Camp in Centerburg, Ohio. At the time my head was spinning, but Jen told me to get the kids signed up and trust in God’s providence.

Fast forward to the trip. So much had changed. The Lord had actually called Jen back to her home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I was in a new job, and my Catholic writing ministry was flourishing. We were able to plan the trip with ease, the Lord already knowing that Jen would be in Fort Wayne. I didn’t have to worry about finding a hotel anymore. Instead, we made plans to drop the kids off at Damascus and stay in Fort Wayne.

In the weeks leading up to the trip, God’s providential hand continued to show up, as if the Master had planned the trip himself. A priest who befriended me on Twitter reached out to me and told me about the shrine of St. Dymphna, and another Twitter friend told me about a wonderful place to eat. The trip started changing from a summer vacation to a pilgrimage, as people from various parts of my life started unknowingly coming together to plan my divine trip.

Another woman, Karen, who had read one of my pieces about the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick for severe mental illness had also reached out to me to tell me that she lived close to the shrine of St. Dymphna and wanted to meet me there. It was amazing how the words that the Lord had given me brought connection, and a sense that my words were not only heard but made a difference in someone I didn’t even know!

When we arrived in Ohio, we spent a day with the kids before taking them to Damascus Catholic Youth Summer Camp. Being that it was the first time I was away from them, I was overcome by emotion, and the fear of being without then as my husband and I went on pilgrimage. But God took care of everything. Not one of my three kids even flinched as we drove away. In fact, I had to make them say goodbye! The Lord let me know that they were well taken care of, and I didn’t have to worry. All of the providential pieces were put into place.

Then it was off to dinner at the place recommended to us, and an early bedtime before we headed several hours away to the National Shrine of St. Dymphna where I made plans to meet up with Karen.

As we drove to the Shrine, I realized that God had planned all of this so long ago. That He knew I would be driving here to meet Karen. He knew Jen was going to move and that in His timing my writing ministry would flourish. I mused on all these things as we pulled up to the Shrine. Once in, the beauty of St. Mary’s Church, coupled with meeting a complete stranger who had connected with me through my writing, proved completely overwhelming.

Click to tweet:
I’ve decided that from here on out, I will center all my travels on God and His plans. #catholicmom

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Karen and I stood before the shrine of St. Dymphna inside St. Mary’s Church and prayed. One of the women from the church let us hold St. Dymphna’s relic, and I touched it to all of the prayers that I had brought with me from people all over the world. St. Dymphna is the patron saint of mental health and Alzheimer’s disease. But a reader of mine also pointed out that she is also the patron saint of autism.

The time we spent together with St. Dymphna and gathering up all those prayers was breathtaking, and Karen and I agreed to continue to stay in touch.

From there, we headed to Ft. Wayne to see Jen. God continued to show His hand as we attended Mass in several parishes, went to the Cathedral and the Catholic bookstore, and spent time in Adoration at the Oratory at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church. By the end of the week, I was spiritually filled and no longer worried about my kids at camp. I had made connections, brought prayers, spent time in mass and adoration and had quality time with my bestie.

I’ve decided that from here on out, I will center all my travels on God and His plans. Bring His people with me. And trust in His providence as my traveling companion.