We Aren’t Meant to Go It Alone

Dear Sisters in Christ,

I am one week back from my two-week adventure to support the European and Asian regional retreats. It was an amazing trip, and I am filled with gratitude for so many things: a fantastic travel partner in Director of Forum Aly Tugaoen; time spent with fellow board member Bevin Landrum and the wonderful European and Asian regional teams; the beautiful churches and chapels in which we worshiped; and the blessing of minimal jetlag. 

But, most of all, I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many of you. I am grateful for the chance to worship alongside you in the Mass; for the opportunity to pray with you during Adoration; for the time to get to know you during our leadership sessions; for the conversations we enjoyed over meals; for the moments to laugh and cry with you; for the babies I got to hold (I’m looking at you Amber, Nicole, Ruth, and Jackie!). These gifts hold true not just for those two retreats, but for all of the MCCW events I attended this year.

The little moments that we enjoy during MCCW retreats with friends from the past and new friends we just met remind me that we are not on this military journey alone. We are all walking this crazy life together. Even when oceans, ridiculously long flights, and crazy time differences separate us, we are all in it together. 

As we shared in Europe and Asia during our presentations on mentoring, that is God’s plan — we aren’t meant to go it alone. In CCC 1269 we read, “Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us. From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church, and to “obey and submit” to the Church’s leaders, holding them in respect and affection.” 

As we near the end of this calendar year, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be subject to you, and to serve you in the communion of our beautiful Catholic Church and in this very special military sisterhood. Connecting, uniting and inspiring you and being connected, united, and inspired alongside you through MCCW is the very best gift for which I could ask!

Yours in Christ,

Kim Miller